A ceremony marked by solemnity, pride, and recognition was held on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at the MONUSCO Force headquarters in Mavivi, in the city of Beni, the provisional capital of North Kivu.
A total of 347 South African peacekeepers, along with staff officers from around a dozen countries, were awarded the United Nations Medal in recognition of their contribution to peace efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The decorated officers notably came from Kenya, Benin, Pakistan, Chad, Malawi, Brazil, Nepal, Tanzania, Jordan, Burkina Faso, Bolivia, and India.
Most of these peacekeepers are reaching the end of their mission within the MONUSCO Force.
A commitment recognized for protecting civilians
The ceremony was presided over by the MONUSCO Force Commander, General Ulisses de Mesquita Gomes, and the Head of the MONUSCO Office in Beni, Abdourahamane Ganda.
General Mesquita Gomes praised the courage and professionalism of these men and women deployed in areas affected by the presence of armed groups, particularly the ADF.
“Thanks to your constant presence, your sense of responsibility in protecting civilians, and your engagement with local communities, you have played an important role in contributing to stability in your areas of responsibility,” he stated.
For his part, the Head of the Beni Office, Abdourahamane Ganda, paid tribute to the memory of peacekeepers who lost their lives in the Congo: “I pay special tribute to the South African contingent which, after 27 years of presence in the Congo, is preparing to leave the DRC permanently. Their contribution to peace has been immense. I honor all those who have lost their lives for a better Congo while fighting armed groups. I commend all troop-contributing countries whose men and women received medals today, particularly the female officers—once again highlighting the importance of women’s role in the world.”
Strategic deployment and support to communities
The decorated peacekeepers are deployed in several sensitive areas of the Beni territory: Maimoya, Eringeti, Oicha, and the city of Beni. Their mission is to strengthen security, protect civilians, and support Congolese defense and security forces.
In a region marked by persistent violence from armed groups, including the ADF, this distinction highlights their courage and commitment. During their mission, South African peacekeepers, like their counterparts from other troop-contributing countries, carried out numerous actions for the benefit of local populations.
These include deterrence patrols, participation in operations of the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB), community outreach in markets and schools, free medical consultations and distribution of medicines, support to schools, orphanages, and social structures, as well as the implementation of quick-impact projects, notably the installation of solar panels.
These initiatives have helped restore a climate of trust with the local population. In Matembo, in the city of Beni, the neighborhood chief, Jacques Manoku, had already testified in 2024: “Here in Matembo, we are well protected by the South African peacekeepers (…) Today, we feel at ease; farmers are beginning to access their fields more easily. There is no more fear; but before, the situation was worse: the ADF roamed freely in the fields. MONUSCO peacekeepers conduct patrols in collaboration with the FARDC, and this reassures us.”
Similar testimonies have been collected from civilian populations in Eringeti, Oicha, and Maimoya.
Present in the DRC for more than a quarter of a century, South African peacekeepers have left a lasting mark on MONUSCO’s history through their consistent commitment to peace across the country.
Jean-Tobie Okala & Martial Mukeba wa Mukeba
