The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has assisted in combating rebels for over two decades, is set to completely withdraw from the country by December.

“After 25 years of presence, MONUSCO will definitively depart from the DRC no later than the end of 2024,” stated Bintou Keita, the head of the MONUSCO mission, during a media briefing in the Congolese capital Kinshasa on Saturday.

The announcement follows the call from the Congolese government, recently re-elected in a disputed vote, for the UN mission to exit the country, citing its failure to protect civilians from armed groups.

Various armed groups, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and M23, remain active in volatile eastern regions such as North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri provinces, resulting in violence and displacement for civilians.

The withdrawal process will unfold in three phases.

During the initial phase, approximately 2,000 UN troops will depart from South Kivu by the end of April, reducing the MONUSCO force from its current strength of 13,500 to 11,500, as explained by Keita.

Congolese security forces will take control of fourteen UN bases in the province during this phase.

Subsequently, forces in North Kivu and Ituri will also undergo withdrawal.