The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), known as MONUSCO, has ended operations in the South Kivu province, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.

MONUSCO now limits its operations to the North Kivu and Ituri provinces, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Dujarric said the withdrawal follows Security Council Resolution 2717, adopted last December. The mandate authorizes MONUSCO to withdraw from South Kivu by the end of April.

"As such, the mission's mandate, including its responsibility to protect civilians, has ended in South Kivu province," the spokesman said, adding that UN agencies, funds and programs will stay in South Kivu to provide support in line with their own mandates.

The first UN peacekeepers were deployed to South Kivu in 2003. Since then, more than 100,000 blue helmets have served in the province, he said.

The head of MONUSCO, Bintou Keita, said in a statement that the responsibility in South Kivu for the security and physical protection of civilians now lies with the Congolese defense and security forces.

According to the disengagement plan, the government is strengthening its presence where the mission is leaving.

Keita thanked the troop- and police-contributing countries that have sent women and men to the DRC. She said that their commitment, expertise and resources have made an invaluable contribution to peace and security in South Kivu.

The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2717 in December 2023, at the DRC government's request to end the mission.