The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, has arrived in Kinshasa on an official visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with plans to travel to Goma in the country’s conflict-hit eastern region in the coming days.
Lacroix’s visit comes at a critical moment for the UN mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), following South Africa’s recent announcement that it intends to withdraw its military contingents from the mission. South Africa has been one of the key African troop-contributing countries to MONUSCO, particularly in the eastern provinces where armed conflict remains widespread.
A Mission Under Transition
The timing of Lacroix’s visit underscores growing concerns over the future of MONUSCO’s operational capacity as the mission undergoes a phased drawdown, agreed upon between the United Nations and the Congolese government. The withdrawal of South African troops adds another layer of uncertainty to an already complex security environment marked by armed group violence, intercommunal tensions and repeated displacement of civilians.
In Kinshasa, Lacroix is expected to hold high-level talks with Congolese authorities to assess the security and political implications of the South African withdrawal, as well as to review coordination mechanisms between MONUSCO and the Congolese armed forces (FARDC). Discussions are also expected to focus on the protection of civilians and the continuity of peacekeeping operations in volatile areas.
Eastern Congo Remains a Flashpoint
Lacroix’s planned visit to Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, carries particular significance. Eastern DRC continues to experience persistent violence involving multiple armed groups, including both local militias and foreign-backed forces. The region faces one of Africa’s most severe humanitarian crises, with millions of people displaced and widespread human rights abuses reported by humanitarian organizations.
During his stay in Goma, the UN peacekeeping chief is expected to meet provincial authorities, MONUSCO leadership and humanitarian actors to evaluate the situation on the ground and assess how the mission can adapt its presence amid troop reductions.
Concerns Over Security Gaps
South Africa’s decision to pull out its troops has raised concerns among analysts and civil society groups about the risk of security vacuums in areas previously secured by MONUSCO. While the Congolese government has repeatedly called for greater national ownership of security operations, observers warn that local forces may struggle to fill the gap without sufficient resources and coordination.
The visit by Jean-Pierre Lacroix is therefore widely seen as an effort to reaffirm the UN’s commitment to stability in the DRC, clarify the roadmap for MONUSCO’s gradual withdrawal and explore sustainable alternatives to support peace and security in the country’s troubled east.
As MONUSCO enters a new phase of its presence in the DRC, the outcomes of Lacroix’s engagements in Kinshasa and Goma are expected to shape the mission’s role during a period of heightened uncertainty.
Kivu News Today
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