South Africa Announces Final Withdrawal of Peacekeeping Forces from UN Mission in DRC by Late 2026

The South African government has formally declared its intention to withdraw its entire military contingent from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). This significant decision was communicated by President Cyril Ramaphosa to UN Secretary-General António Guterres during a telephone conversation held on January 12, 2026. This move represents the conclusion of nearly three decades of South African military support for UN-led peacekeeping initiatives within the DRC. Currently, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) maintains a presence of over 700 personnel in MONUSCO, positioning the country as a primary contributor to the mission's operations. The full extraction of these troops is slated for completion before the end of 2026, with the process being coordinated in close partnership with the United Nations.

The official rationale provided by the South African administration centers on the necessity to reallocate and consolidate SANDF resources following almost thirty years of continuous involvement in regional peacekeeping. This strategic pivot occurs amidst a persistently volatile environment in the eastern provinces of the DRC, where armed groups, most notably the M23 movement, remain highly active. Despite the withdrawal plans, the MONUSCO mandate—recently extended by the UN Security Council until December 20, 2026—remains a vital mechanism for the protection of civilians. The urgency of the situation is underscored by a sharp escalation of violence in regions such as North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, where documented fatalities exceeded 7,000 over the past year.

Domestic political discourse within South Africa has provided further context for this withdrawal, highlighting previous operational hurdles faced by units deployed in the DRC. These challenges include significant concerns regarding force protection and the complexities of maintaining logistical support in difficult terrain. It has been noted that the prior extension of over 1,000 South African troops in the DRC, which President Ramaphosa authorized through December 2024, incurred costs to South African taxpayers exceeding $42 million. These financial considerations, coupled with the imperative to refocus national defense assets, signal a major strategic transition from long-term foreign deployments toward the internal management of the nation's defensive capabilities.

While withdrawing from MONUSCO, the South African government has reaffirmed its broader commitment to peace and security initiatives under the auspices of the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the United Nations. This suggests that the exit is specific to the MONUSCO framework rather than a total withdrawal from regional security cooperation. MONUSCO, which was originally established in 1999, stands as one of the UN's longest-running missions, and the departure of a major contingent like South Africa’s inevitably raises questions regarding the mission's future capacity to maintain regional stability. Ultimately, the decision appears deeply rooted in evolving internal strategic priorities and the ongoing reorganization of the South African National Defence Force.