# DRC and UN agree on plan for MONUSCO withdrawal

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2023/12/drc-and-un-agree-on-plan-for-monusco-withdrawal/
- Published: 2023-12-02T23:06:42+01:00
- Author: Kazim Abdul

The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the United Nations
Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) have signed a note on the
accelerated, gradual, orderly and responsible withdrawal of the peacekeeping mission
from the country. The note, co-signed by the Congolese Vice Prime Minister, Minister
of Foreign Affairs and Francophonie, Mr Christophe Lutundula, and the Special Representative
of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC and Head of MONUSCO, Ms Bintou Keita, on 
21 November in Kinshasa, contains a plan and a timeline for the complete disengagement
of the mission in the country.

The signing of the note follows the request of the Congolese Head of State, H.E.
Mr Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, and his Vice Prime Minister, Mr Christophe
Lutundula, to accelerate the withdrawal of MONUSCO from the DRC starting in December
2023, which they expressed last September at the UN General Assembly. The Security
Council, in its Presidential Statement of 16 October, welcomed the request and urged
the parties to develop a joint disengagement plan.

The plan, which was developed by joint technical teams bringing together Government
and MONUSCO counterparts, will be jointly implemented in three phases, with the 
support of the DRC’s international and national partners. The plan envisages a progressive
reduction of MONUSCO’s military and civilian presence, as well as a transfer of 
tasks and responsibilities from MONUSCO to the Government of the DRC. The plan also
foresees a quarterly evaluation mechanism to enable regular stocktaking of the situation
and minimise any sudden disruptions that could lead to a security vacuum.

“We want this withdrawal to be a model that will give us greater international respectability
and help us improve our country’s image. This document contains a plan for the disengagement
of the MONUSCO Force and a plan for transferring tasks and responsibilities from
MONUSCO to the Government of the DRC. We also foresee a quarterly evaluation mechanism
to enable regular stocktaking of the situation and minimise any sudden disruptions
that could lead to a security vacuum,” Mr Christophe Lutundula said.

MONUSCO Head Bintou Keita said the mission worked with Congolese authorities toward“
accelerated” withdrawal in “a spirit of collaboration and mutual respect”.

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“We thank our Congolese partners for signing this disengagement plan, which marks
the end of a long process. We remain determined to work with the Congolese authorities
towards an accelerated withdrawal of MONUSCO that consolidates the gains made during
the Mission’s presence in the DRC. We have worked together in a constructive spirit
of collaboration and mutual respect to achieve this objective set by the Security
Council,” the Head of MONUSCO, Ms Bintou Keita, declared.

After the Mission’s departure, the UN system will continue to support the development
efforts of the Congolese Government and people, to sustain peacebuilding and security
gains in the country.

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The withdrawal process is expected to begin on 1 January 2024. MONUSCO is a UN peacekeeping
force in the DRC which was established in 2010. It aims to ensure security and stability
in the country and to support the rule of law and human rights. MONUSCO came into
being on 1 July 2010 in the wake of the closure of MONUC (UN Organization Mission
in the DRC) and became the first authorised to use “all necessary means”, including
force, to carry out its mandate. This authorisation saw the establishment of the
Force Intervention Brigade (FIB), staffed by three Southern African Development 
Community (SADC) countries – Malawi, Tanzania and South Africa. All three number
in the top 10 troop-contributing countries (TCCs) with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh,
Nepal, Indonesia, Morocco and Uruguay.

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The phased withdrawal process is reported to be in three stages; the first stage
is already at an advanced level and will lead to the complete withdrawal of MONUSCO
military and police personnel from South Kivu by 30 April 2024. The withdrawal will
see 14 MONUSCO bases handed to the DRC government. The second is the withdrawal 
from North Kivu during the second half of next year. This will follow “a full evaluation”
of the first phase and will see “sequential withdrawal of forces from the central
sector to ensure MONUSCO protection tasks can be carried out in Goma while the disengagement
process is underway”. The Kivu withdrawal will see a further 22 MONUSCO bases handed
to DRC government authorities. The third phase, according to the mission, will start
post-phase two evaluation and see MONUSCO exit the Ituri province.

In April, [South Sudanese soldiers arrived in Goma](https://www.military.africa/2023/04/south-sudanese-troops-land-in-eastern-dr-congo/),
in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, after South Sudanese President 
Salva Kiir [announced](https://www.military.africa/2022/12/south-sudan-deploys-troops-to-dr-congo-to-restore-peace)
that his country had sent a battalion of 750 soldiers to DR Congo under the East
African Regional Force (EARF) tasked to restore peace in the country’s restive east,

[South Africa’s commitment to MONUSCO](https://www.military.africa/2023/03/4-sa-infantry-battalion-tf-charlie-prepares-to-head-out-to-drc/)
comprises a battalion component of the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB), a quick
reaction force (QRF), an intelligence unit and the combined helicopter unit (CHU)
manned with [Oryx and Rooivalk](https://www.military.africa/2023/02/souh-african-oryx-helicopter-comes-under-attack-in-drc/)
as well as a level two SA Military Health Service (SAMHS) facility in Goma.

Meanwhile, the [East African Community (EAC) peacekeeping force will end its mission](https://www.military.africa/2023/11/eac-peacekeepers-to-exit-drc-amid-renewed-violence/)
in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after December 8, according to
a statement issued by the regional bloc’s heads of state. The EAC Regional Force(
EACRF) has been deployed in the conflict-ridden region since 2022 but has failed
to bring lasting stability and security to the area. The EAC leaders said they will
hand over the responsibility to the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
forces, but will remain engaged in the peace process.

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