DRC President Tshisekedi Urges UN Peacekeepers to Depart, Plans Embassy Move to Jerusalem

President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo has called for an accelerated withdrawal of the United Nations peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, due to its failure to rein in rebel groups and bring peace to the country. Anti-UN protests have turned violent, with dozens of civilians killed. Tshisekedi stated that the withdrawal was necessary to ease tensions and end the conflict between the Congolese people and the mission. Talks are underway to quicken MONUSCO's exit, beginning at the end of the year, despite an earlier withdrawal deadline of December 2024. The DRC will hold general elections in late December amid threats of unrest from armed militias.