The UN peacekeeping mission in Congo, which played a vital role in combating rebels for over two decades before receiving a request from the Congolese government to depart, announced on Saturday that it would finalize its withdrawal from the Central African nation by the conclusion of 2024. The mission, known as MONUSCO and comprising 15,000 personnel, will execute a three-phased withdrawal. The initial phase will commence in the South Kivu province, with approximately 2,000 security personnel scheduled to depart by the end of April.