At the request of the Government of the DRC, the UN Security Council decided to withdraw the MONUSCO force from the province of South Kivu this Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
« MONUSCO began winding down its operations in South Kivu in January 2024 and, as of May 1, 2024, the Mission’s mandate, including its responsibility to protect civilians, ends in that province. Only uniformed personnel necessary to ensure the security of UN personnel, installations, convoys and equipment will be maintained there until the end of withdrawal activities. », Indicates a press release published Tuesday by the UN mission.
According to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Head of MONUSCO, Bintou Keita, responsibility for the security and physical protection of civilians in this province now falls to the defense and security forces of the DRC.
Transfer of responsibilities
As part of its disengagement, the press release continued, MONUSCO transferred two military bases to the national authorities. Of the remaining seven other military bases, five (Mikenge, Minembwe, Rutemba, Uvira and Kavumu) will be transferred to the FARDC between May and June 2024 while two (Baraka and Sange) will be closed in May.
In addition, fifteen facilities will also be transferred or closed by June 30, 2024. All uniformed personnel will be repatriated by June 30, 2024 and only a residual team of civilian personnel will remain responsible for working on the transition.
The first peacekeepers were deployed in 2003 under the auspices of MONUC. Since then, according to the same source, more than 100,000 peacekeepers have served in the province through numerous rotations.
This withdrawal is part of Resolution 2717 of December 2023, by which the UN Security Council limits the implementation of MONUSCO’s mandate in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri.
Kadi Lo, MONUSCO spokesperson, explains:
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