Congo President Urges UN Peacekeepers to Depart in 2021

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has instructed his government to expedite the withdrawal of the United Nations peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, in order to begin the process by the end of this year. The mission has faced criticism for its failure to protect civilians against armed groups, leading to deadly protests. President Tshisekedi expressed disappointment in the mission's inability to address rebellions and armed conflicts, prompting him to initiate discussions with the UN for an accelerated withdrawal, moving the start from December 2024 to December 2023.