MONUSCO officially ceased its operations in South Kivu

“MONUSCO began winding down its operations in South Kivu in January 2024 and, as of May 1, 2024, the Mission's mandate, including its responsibility to protect civilians, ends in this province. Only uniformed personnel necessary to ensure the security of UN personnel, installations, convoys and equipment will be maintained there until the end of withdrawal activities,” said a statement released Tuesday by the UN mission UN”, according to the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of MONUSCO, Bintou Keita, responsibility for the security and physical protection of civilians in this province now falls to the defence and security forces of the DRC.

Transfer of responsibilities

As part of its disengagement, the press release continued, MONUSCO transferred two military bases to the national authorities. Of the remaining seven other military bases, five (Mikenge, Minembwe, Rutemba, Uvira and Kavumu) will be transferred to the FARDC between May and June 2024 while two (Baraka and Sange) will be closed in May.

Additionally, fifteen facilities will be transferred or closed by June 30, 2024. All uniformed personnel will be repatriated by June 30, 2024, and only a residual team of civilian personnel will remain responsible for working on the transition.

The first peacekeepers were deployed in 2003 under the auspices of MONUC. Since then, according to the same source, more than 100,000 peacekeepers have served in the province through numerous rotations.

This withdrawal is part of Resolution 2717 of December 2023, by which the UN Security Council limits the implementation of MONUSCO's mandate in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri.