The Monusco mission is set to withdraw from the Democratic Republic of Congo by 2024, but this will only be possible if certain conditions are met. UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Jean-Pierre Lacroix recently announced the news during his visit to the country, indicating that Congolese authorities were also working to ensure a smooth transition.
“We have a good convergence of analysis and approach with our Congolese partners. The observation is that this transition must take place as quickly as possible and accelerate as quickly as possible”, said he declared. He also explained that “the reduction in the security risk, the massive reduction in the impact of the activities of armed groups, the rise in power of the State” would be essential conditions for the departure of Monusco.
Currently, Monusco is more concentrated in the east of the country, where violence persists, but it has closed some offices elsewhere in the country. It is however important to note that the deadline for the final departure is not yet defined, as it will depend on the decision of the Security Council.
The Congolese government has made no secret of its desire to see Monusco leave and wants this to be done in a fair and responsible manner. President Félix Tshisekedi had even requested a meeting with Monusco to reassess the departure plan after the demonstrations that took place in North and South Kivu a year ago.
Overall, the departure of Monusco is an important step for the Democratic Republic of Congo and can contribute to strengthening long-term security in the country. However, this will require continued work to reduce violence and strengthen the state