During a multi-day visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the head of the UN peacekeeping operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, stressed the importance of ensuring that the transfer of responsibilities to the Congolese authorities takes place in parallel with the development of their security forces, the mission said in a press release.
"It is essential that the transfer of responsibility for security and the protection of civilians takes place at the same time as MONUSCO withdraws from certain sensitive areas where peacekeepers ensure the physical safety of several hundred thousand civilians," the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations said.
The DRC government had requested an accelerated withdrawal of the UN mission in the country from the end of 2023.
Last December, the UN Security Council decided to extend MONUSCO's mandate until December 20, 2024.
In a resolution, the UN executive body also decided to initiate the mission's "gradual, responsible, sustainable withdrawal" from the country and to gradually transfer its responsibilities to the Congolese authorities.
Under the new resolution, MONUSCO will maintain a maximum authorized strength of 13,500 military personnel, 660 military observers and staff officers, 591 police officers, and 1,410 members of formed police units until June 30, 2024.
As of July 1, 2024, these numbers will be reduced to 11,500 military personnel, 600 military observers and staff officers, 443 police officers, and 1,270 members of formed police units, according to the UN Security Council.