The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the country (MONUSCO) announced that the mission will temporarily suspend the withdrawal of troops from the African country without setting a specific timeline for the next phase.

The first phase of the withdrawal from South Kivu province ended on June 25, later than the planned deadline of April, said the DRC's Ambassador to the United Nations, Zenon Mukongo Ngay.

However, Mr. Zenon stressed that the conditions for the next phase have not yet been met, due to the escalation of conflict in the eastern province of North Kivu of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

DR Congo's Foreign Minister Therese Wamba Wagner said the government wanted to avoid creating a security vacuum when the UN forces left. Based on the situation in North Kivu, the government would make an appropriate decision and resume the withdrawal if conditions were favorable.

VIET KHUE