The UN Security Council has renewed the mandate of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) until 20 December 2026 under Resolution 2808 (2025). The resolution maintains an authorized troop ceiling of 11,500 military personnel, 600 military observers and staff officers, 443 police personnel, and 1,270 formed police unit personnel. MONUSCO’s core operations will continue in North Kivu and Ituri, while deployments to South Kivu for ceasefire monitoring will be subject to security conditions and prior notification to the Council.
The resolution also extends the mandate of MONUSCO’s Force Intervention Brigade on an exceptional basis. Established in 2013, the specialized brigade is tasked with disrupting and disarming armed groups, marking a precedent for the use of such a force within UN peacekeeping operations. The renewal comes amid a “rapidly deteriorating security and humanitarian crisis” in eastern DRC, driven by the M23 armed group’s offensive in North Kivu and South Kivu, reportedly with direct support from the Rwanda Defence Forces. The resolution condemns M23’s recent seizure of Uvira, a strategic city on Lake Tanganyika, warning that the advance threatens regional stability.
Member states expressed varied perspectives on the resolution. France, serving as penholder, highlighted the urgency of the situation and called on all parties to commit to lasting peace in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region. The United States emphasized that M23, supported by the Rwanda Defence Forces, must comply with its obligations under the Doha framework and withdraw at least 75 kilometers from Uvira.
China and Russia, while supporting the renewal, stressed the importance of maintaining MONUSCO’s independence, neutrality, and authority, and cautioned against politicizing the mission. China reiterated its support for DRC sovereignty and territorial integrity, urging external actors to respect peace efforts. Russia called for detailed proposals on MONUSCO’s role in ceasefire monitoring by March 2026 and urged all parties to comply with Security Council resolutions to protect civilians and stabilize the region.
