UN peacekeeping force signs agreement on withdrawal from DR Congo

By Tufan Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) – The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed an agreement Thursday on the withdrawal of its troops from the country.

The agreement was signed by Bintou Keita, the head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), and DRC Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula, according to a statement issued by MONUSCO.

While the details of the withdrawal, which will take place in three stages, were not provided in the statement, it was mentioned that DRC forces would fill the void left by the peacekeeping force.

In September, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi called for the withdrawal of peacekeeping forces beginning in December during his speech at the 78th UN General Assembly.

The DRC has been suffering from conflicts and attacks by armed groups for over 20 years in the east, where the country shares borders with Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi, as they seek to control resources such as gold and cobalt.

Demonstrations by the public have taken place many times advocating for the withdrawal of MONUSCO, which is one of the world's largest UN missions, with approximately 16,000 personnel.

Recently, the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) deployed peacekeeping forces to the country.

*Writing by Esra Tekin in Istanbul