South Africa will withdraw its troops from the United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo by the end of 2026, ending a 27-year deployment.
The presidency said President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed the decision during a January phone call with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Ramaphosa said the withdrawal reflects the need to consolidate and realign resources within South Africa’s national defence force.
South Africa is among MONUSCO’s top ten troop contributors, currently deploying more than 700 soldiers to support peacekeeping operations.
Pretoria said it will work closely with the United Nations to finalise withdrawal timelines and other logistical details.
The government stressed it will maintain strong ties with Congo and continue supporting regional and multilateral peace initiatives.
These efforts include cooperation through the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, and the United Nations.
MONUSCO thanked South Africa for its decades-long commitment, praising the professionalism and dedication of its peacekeepers.
The mission also honoured South African soldiers who died in service, recognising their sacrifice in pursuit of peace.
MONUSCO said it looks forward to continued cooperation with South Africa on peacekeeping lessons and future stability efforts.
The withdrawal comes as eastern Congo remains volatile, with the M23 rebel group controlling major territories, including Goma and Bukavu.
Congo and M23 recently agreed to monitor a ceasefire under a Qatar-mediated process backed by international partners.