United Nations peacekeepers have initiated the transfer of their first military base to security forces in eastern Congo, marking the beginning of a phased withdrawal after decades of presence in the country. The handover took place in Kamanyola, South Kivu province, amidst escalating violence in the conflict-ridden region.
The move involved the transfer of responsibility and equipment from the U.N. peacekeepers to Congo's national police, in accordance with a planned drawdown agreed upon between the government and the U.N. last year. Eastern Congo has long been plagued by numerous armed groups vying for control of the region's valuable resources, particularly gold.
