South Africa withdrawal from UN peacekeeping mission in DRC
South Africa’s decision to withdraw its troops from the United Nations peacekeeping operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a marker of change in the security dynamics of the region. In real terms, it is a “realignment” of military resources that seeks to spark debate on allegiances to security mechanisms on the continent, UN peacekeeping, and the security situation in the DRC.
For the past 27 years, South Africa has been a regular contributor to peacekeeping in the UN in the DRC. The withdrawal of Pretoria is not only operationally important but also symbolic. Pretoria’s retreat portends the potential erosion of African leadership for peacekeeping at a time when the conflict in Congo is increasing.
A Mission Struggling to Deliver Stability
The UN presence in DRC, known currently as MONUSCO, has historically been one of the largest and most costly UN operations. At times, it had a maximum strength of more than 20,000 personnel, and it was funded annually through a budget of more than $1 billion. However, as of late 2025, it was maintaining nearly 11,000 troops and police.
Still, the region, after several decades of occupation by international forces, has over 120 armed groups operating within it, including the M23 rebels, the Allied Democratic Forces, and the Mai Mai militia groups. This conflict has resulted in one of the worse humanitarian crises across the globe, as the UN estimates that 6.9 million people are currently internally displaced.
This ineffectiveness in Congo led to much criticism in Congo as the number of protests by the population against the UN peace mission in Congo keeps rising. South Africa’s withdrawal could also be motivated by skepticism.
South Africa’s Military Constraints and Domestic Pressures
The stated reasons for scaled-back funding, the realignment of military resources, imply the limitations of the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF) capacity and funding. South Africa’s military spending has been on a downward trend over the last ten years, from about 1.5% of the country’s GDP to less than 1%. Lack of equipment and budget constraints have been affecting the SANDF.
Domestic security threats, borders, and the need to contribute to other regional operations, like the SADC intervention in Mozambique against ISIS-affiliated militants, are likely competing for limited resources. Such concerns indicate that South Africa’s decision to withdraw is more about an overstretching of its capabilities than a genuine need to re-strategize, which is suggestive of structural problems in the continent’s peacekeeping capabilities.
Implications for Regional Security and Multilateralism
Further, South Africa’s withdrawal would mean that the African soldier-contributing nations will be making fewer contributions to the MONUSCO mission force, opting to pull out from the region that has long been volatile. African soldier-contributing nations have been the beacon of peacekeeping missions, and their withdrawal signals instability.
It has also established itself as a continental security leader, especially within the frameworks of the African Union and BRICS. This could undermine its credibility as a champion of African-led solutions to African conflicts.
The drawdown also reflects a larger global trend: shrinking engagement in UN peacekeeping. In recent decades, large troop contributors, including India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, have shown fluctuating interest, while Western countries have grown increasingly reluctant to deploy in significant numbers.
Humanitarian and Civilian Protection Concerns
The UN mandate includes the protection of civilians, particularly in the east of Congo, where civilians have been affected in various ways, including sexual abuse and forced recruitment in armed groups.
Between 1998 and the present, conflicts within Congo have contributed to millions of deaths, according to recent UN figures, which revealed that over 27 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
South Africa’s withdrawal from DROC may undermine its ability to protect civilians, especially in areas where it was deployed, potentially destabilizing the region and increasing tensions with Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi.
Political Signalling and Geopolitical Calculations
Such a decision by Pretoria, however, is not without geopolitical implications since, in recent times, South Africa has shown increasing engagement with BRICS policy as well as domestic issues that could have led to the de-escalation of overseas operations, especially considering the tense relationships between the DRC and Rwanda, as the latter is accused of supporting the M23 rebels.
By maintaining relations with Congo while withdrawing troops, it appears that South Africa may be shifting from military action to diplomacy, as it joins the larger movement of mediating conflicts rather than enforces peace.
A Broader Crisis of UN Peacekeeping Credibility
South Africa’s move highlights a structural crisis in UN peacekeeping. Missions like MONUSCO, MINUSMA (Mali), and others have faced host government hostility, civilian protests, and accusations of ineffectiveness. Mali’s government expelled UN peacekeepers in 2023, and Congo has repeatedly demanded MONUSCO’s drawdown.
This reflects a global decline in confidence in UN peacekeeping as a tool for stabilising protracted conflicts—particularly where political settlements remain elusive.
