In a move signaling a major shift in international peacekeeping efforts, South Africa has announced the withdrawal of its remaining troops from the United Nations’ long-standing mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo). The decision, confirmed by the UN Secretariat on February 8, deals a significant blow to the already beleaguered UN Organization Stabilization Mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO), one of the world’s most costly and protracted peacekeeping operations.
This withdrawal underscores a profound failure to quell a decades-long conflict in Eastern Congo—a war often described as the world’s deadliest since World War II, with over six million deaths. The region is a complex tapestry of over 200 armed groups vying for control of its vast mineral wealth, including cobalt and coltan, essential for the global electronics and green energy industries.
A Mission Under Fire
South Africa’s departure comes less than a year after the collapse of a separate, South Africa-led Southern African Development Community (SADC) military mission in the east. That force, which included troops from Malawi and Tanzania, was deployed to support the Congolese army (FARDC) against the resurgent M23 rebel movement. Its withdrawal followed significant losses, including the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu, to the M23—a group widely believed to be backed by neighboring Rwanda, a charge Rwanda denies.
The Congolese government’s coalition, a contentious mix of FARDC, Burundian troops, the sanctioned FDLR militia (linked to the Rwandan genocide), European mercenaries, and local “Wazalendo” militias, has proven unable to stem the rebel advance.
Domestic Pressures and a “Declining” Force
Pretoria’s decision is driven by intense domestic pressure to review overseas military commitments amid widespread reports of the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF) “ineptitude and decline.” Chronic underfunding, aging equipment, and poor morale have severely hampered its operational capacity. With 750 personnel in MONUSCO as of late 2025, South Africa was a substantial contributor. Its exit leaves a critical gap in a mission already accused of becoming a costly bystander to endless cycles of violence.
MONUSCO’s Troubled Legacy
MONUSCO, with an annual budget exceeding $1 billion and approximately 14,000 military troops, first deployed in 1999. After 27 years, it faces overwhelming criticism from the Congolese populace and government alike for failing to protect civilians or disarm militant groups. While its mandate was extended for another year in December 2025, its credibility and effectiveness are at an all-time low. The mission’s perceived inaction has fueled violent protests demanding its departure, even as the security situation deteriorates.
The Bigger Picture: A Region on the Brink
South Africa’s dual withdrawal from both the SADC mission and now MONUSCO reveals a chilling reality: international and regional stabilization efforts in Eastern Congo are unraveling. This creates a dangerous power vacuum at a time when the M23 rebellion is gaining unprecedented ground. The conflict is fundamentally a regional war, with DR Congo and Burundi facing off against Rwanda-backed factions, all while millions of civilians are caught in the crossfire, facing displacement, hunger, and rampant human rights abuses.
What Comes Next?
The departure of a key African military power from MONUSCO raises urgent questions about the future of international intervention in Congo. It places immense pressure on the remaining UN contingents and the Congolese government, which appears increasingly reliant on a patchwork of unstable and problematic alliances. As one of the UN’s most expensive peacekeeping chapters nears a potential close, the world watches to see if its exit will pave the way for a regional diplomatic solution or plunge Eastern Congo into an even wider and more unmanageable conflict.
