The United Nations (UN) Secretary General António Guterres has echoed the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by expressing his deep gratitude to the government and people of South Africa (SA) for their steadfast commitment to UN Peacekeeping over several decades.

This followed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to withdraw the country’s remaining SA National Defence Force contingents and troops from the mission after almost three decades of support.

The UN has thanked SA for its role in supporting UN peacekeeping in the DRC where it has been a key troop contributor, including for the offensive Force Intervention Brigade.

The departure comes at a time when UN peacekeeping operations have been forced to cutback operations by 25% given the financial constraints facing the organisation.

–SABC–