Goma

 Bintou Keita, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) and head of MONUSCO, is set to leave her position and transition into retirement, according to senior UN sources. Her departure comes as the United Nations intensifies its phased withdrawal from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after more than two decades of peacekeeping operations.

Keita, who assumed leadership of MONUSCO in January 2021, was originally appointed to serve until February 2026. However, insiders indicate that she will step down months earlier, aligning her exit with the mission’s accelerated disengagement strategy and the political dynamics surrounding MONUSCO’s final months in the country.

Her departure marks a significant moment in the UN mission’s timeline. In recent months, MONUSCO has been closing key bases and transferring responsibilities to Congolese authorities. The mission formally ended operations in South Kivu the first major phase of the drawdown earlier this year, and is preparing for a full withdrawal by December under UN Security Council-mandated timelines.

During her tenure, Keita oversaw several critical phases of MONUSCO’s reconfiguration, including reductions in troop levels, the closure of long-standing bases, and intensified coordination with the Congolese government amid rising insecurity in the east. Her leadership coincided with heightened tensions between Kinshasa and the UN mission, ongoing conflict involving FARDC, M23/AFC, and other armed groups, and increased civilian protection challenges.

With Keita’s departure imminent, the mission is expected to be co-led temporarily by the two deputy special representatives one overseeing protection and operations, and the other responsible for humanitarian and development coordination. The UN is reportedly reviewing several candidates for a permanent replacement, though no official appointment has been announced. A senior UN official described her early exit as “a planned transition,” emphasizing that it fits within the broader strategy to responsibly conclude MONUSCO’s mandate while maintaining essential civilian protection and humanitarian operations.

The drawdown of MONUSCO once the UN’s largest and most expensive peacekeeping mission represents a historic shift in the DRC’s security landscape. While the government has reiterated its desire to regain full sovereignty over national security, the UN and regional partners continue to express concern over persistent instability in North Kivu, Ituri, and parts of South Kivu.

Keita’s retirement adds an additional layer of uncertainty to this delicate period, as the country navigates the complex security, political, and humanitarian implications of the mission’s departure. Before leading MONUSCO, Bintou Keita served in several senior positions within the United Nations, including roles in peace operations, conflict prevention, and humanitarian affairs. Her decades-long UN career spanned assignments in Africa, Asia, and New York headquarters.Her exit from MONUSCO will likely close a long chapter of UN service, though no public statement has yet been released by the UN Secretariat.