What has been demanded by the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for a long time has become official as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) today officially voted in favour of initiating “phased down operations” for MONUSCO, the UN’s mission in the DRC.
#BREAKING UN Security Council unanimously adopts resolution initiating the phased down operations of the @MONUSCO, UN’s peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
All 15 members voted IN FAVOUR pic.twitter.com/MQON5MaEIs
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) December 19, 2023
The UN has been in the DRC for decades, but has grown increasingly unpopular as of late as many citizens of the DRC accuse them of not doing enough to quel the violence in the nations volatile east. A series of violent anti-UN protests, which led to the deaths of both civilians and peacekeepers, resulted in the DRC government calling for the UN to leave the country by the end of the year. While the mission has already been significantly scaled back as they prepared to withdraw, todays resolution serves as an official beginning of the ending procedures.
It is unclear whether the UN’s withdrawal plan will follow that which was demanded by the DRC government.
