The UN Security Council unanimously renewed the MONUSCO peacekeeping mandate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for one year, extending it until 20 December 2026. The decision follows significant M23 gains — including the December 10 seizure of Uvira — and US accusations that Rwanda backs the rebel group. At least 85,000 people have fled to Burundi; UNHCR now expects about 90,000 new arrivals, underscoring urgent shelter and protection needs.
UN Extends MONUSCO Mandate to Dec 20, 2026 as M23 Advances Drive Mass Displacement
At least 85,000 people had fled Democratic Republic of Congo in recent weeks to seek refuge in Burundi, officials say (Jospin Mwisha)(Jospin Mwisha/AFP/AFP)
The UN Security Council voted unanimously on Friday to renew the mandate of MONUSCO, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for an additional year — extending it until 20 December 2026.
MONUSCO currently fields roughly 11,500 military personnel. The operation remains one of the UN "blue helmet" missions supported by the United States, which has in the past urged cost reductions for UN deployments.
The resolution comes amid a series of territorial gains by the M23 rebel group, including the capture of the major eastern cities of Goma in January and Bukavu in February, and the seizure of Uvira on 10 December. The Uvira takeover gave M23 control of a land border with Burundi and disrupted the DRC's access to regional military support.
“Negotiations to renew the MONUSCO mandate were yet again disrupted by Rwandan and M23 efforts to sabotage a viable peace process,” said US representative Jennifer Locetta at Friday's meeting.
Leaders of the DRC and Rwanda signed a regional peace agreement earlier this month in Washington, but the fall of Uvira threatened to undermine that accord. On Wednesday M23 said it had begun withdrawing from parts of Uvira and urged mediators to ensure the city is protected from violence, reprisals and remilitarization. Local sources, however, reported troops moving toward the northern parts of the city and said M23 police and plainclothes agents remained visible on the streets and at strategic positions.
Humanitarian pressures are mounting. Two Burundian officials estimated that at least 85,000 people recently fled the DRC to seek refuge in Burundi. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) now expects about 90,000 new arrivals and has documented people sheltering outdoors with little or no infrastructure to support them.
With the mandate extended, MONUSCO will continue operations aimed at protecting civilians, supporting stabilization efforts and facilitating humanitarian access — even as regional tensions and accusations of external backing for M23 complicate diplomacy and security on the ground.
