In December, the UN Security Council extended MONUSCO’s mandate in the DR Congo until December 20, 2024, and outlined plans for a “gradual, responsible, and sustainable withdrawal” of the mission, transferring responsibilities to Congolese authorities.
Contrary to rumors, MONUSCO will not exit by the end of 2024, according to Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Undersecretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. “I dispel this rumor, as it has never been confirmed by any authorities,” he stated, noting the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Civil society members have urged MONUSCO to remain, especially in Ituri, where armed group violence persists. Although MONUSCO has begun withdrawing from areas like South Kivu, Congolese officials are reconsidering this due to rising violence in other regions.
With instability in Ituri, concerns about a “security vacuum” are growing. Gracien Iracan, an MP for Ituri, highlighted that “60% of the province is controlled by armed groups and beyond the Congolese army’s reach.”
While Lacroix noted some progress in reducing violence in North Kivu, he emphasized that significant challenges remain. The MONUSCO mission was established in eastern DRC in 2010 to support the government’s stabilization efforts, but it has faced criticism over its effectiveness amid ongoing violence.
