Unsc Extends Congo Peacekeeping Mission
On Friday, the United Nations Security Council UNSC voted to extend the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC for another year, further delaying the planned withdrawal from the conflict-ridden eastern provinces. Despite previous calls from the Congolese government for the force - known as MONUSCO - to leave, a note from Congos mission to the United Nations revealed that the government had requested the missions renewal.
In the note, titled A Vision for MONUSCO Withdrawal and the Renewal of Its Mandate, Congos government expressed its support for a "robust posture" of MONUSCO. The renewal of the mandate means that nearly 11,000 peacekeepers will remain deployed in the DRC at least until December 2025, continuing to play a central role in maintaining security in the mineral-rich eastern region, which is plagued by ongoing territorial disputes and armed conflicts among various rebel groups.
MONUSCOs planned exit from South Kivu province has already taken place, but its withdrawal from North Kivu and Ituri was put on hold in July. At that time, the Congolese government cited security concerns, including the presence of Rwandan troops in support of the M23 rebel group, which Kigali denies.
The UN resolution also condemned any external support for M23 or other armed groups operating in the DRC. It called for an immediate end to such support and the withdrawal of any foreign military forces engaged in unauthorized operations within the DRC's borders.
