He noted that South Africa is among the top 10 troop-contributing countries to MONUSCO, with more than 700 soldiers.
“Strong commitment” praised
In response, MONUSCO expressed its deep gratitude to the Government and people of South Africa “for their steadfast commitment over several decades to United Nations peacekeeping, as well as for the dedication demonstrated by South African peacekeepers in support of the Mission’s mandate.”
“The Mission”looks forward to continuing to engage with the Republic of South Africa on broader peacekeeping issuesincluding lessons learned and continued support for efforts to promote peace and stability.”
It will also work closely with the UN Secretariat and relevant stakeholders to ensure that any transition related to the withdrawal “is managed in a safe, orderly and responsible manner, in accordance with United Nations standards and operational requirements.”
The UN Secretary-General also expressed his gratitude to South Africa for its long-standing commitment and sacrifice, his spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, told reporters in New York on Monday.
Service and sacrifice
MONUSCO has been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since July 2010, replacing a previous UN peacekeeping operation that oversaw the implementation of a ceasefire agreement following conflict in the east stemming from the 1994 genocide in neighboring Rwanda.
Several regional countries and armed groups were involved in the fighting, also known as the Great African War.
MONUSCO’s mandate includes protecting civilians and helping the Democratic Republic of the Congo stabilize and consolidate peace.
More than 12,400 people were serving in the Mission as of October 2025, including some 9,177 soldiers and 926 police officers from more than 50 countries.. Since its inception, 304 deaths have been recorded.
MONUSCO paid tribute “to the South African peacekeepers who lost their lives under the flag of the United Nations in the service of peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and honors their sacrifice.”
Visit of the chief of peacekeeping
UN Peacekeeping Chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix is currently in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where on Monday he met with President Félix Tshisekedi, Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, key members of the government and relevant stakeholders.
Discussions focused on the implementation of MONUSCO’s mandate, including support for a permanent ceasefire.
Lacroix will then travel to Beni, in the province of North Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he will assess recent events and meet with provincial authorities and peacekeepers deployed in the area.
Later this week, he will travel to Ethiopia for the annual African Union summit, which will take place in the capital, Addis Ababa.