South Africa withdraws its 700 troop deployment from MONUSCO

After a 26-year long deployment mission to former SADC country the Democratic Republic of Congo, the South African president Ramaphosa has announced after a phone call with UN Secretary General António Guterres on 12th January 2026. Being one of the top 10 largest contribuents to the MONUSCO's infantery troops, the operation finds itself in a critical position to restructure its security approach to establish peace in the war torn Eastern DRC. According to the South African government, the withdrawal serves as a strategic decision of revisiting and realigning its resources of the South African National Defense Force, while emphasizing to keep in close contact with Kinshasa.