Overview
- President Cyril Ramaphosa told UN Secretary‑General António Guterres of the decision in a 12 January call.
- South Africa has more than 700 SANDF personnel in the DRC, ranking among MONUSCO’s top contributors.
- The Presidency cites a need to consolidate and realign SANDF resources after nearly three decades in the DRC.
- Pretoria and the UN will finalize withdrawal modalities, with the Presidency indicating completion before the end of 2026, though some reports say before year‑end.
- MONUSCO and the UN thanked South Africa and pledged a safe, orderly transition, as Pretoria signals continued diplomatic support for regional peace efforts.