UNITED NATIONS peacekeepers handed over their first military base to security forces in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Wednesday as part of an eventual withdrawal after decades of a “failed” mission in the country. 

The handover comes as violence soars in the conflict-riddled region.

Peacekeepers transferred responsibility and equipment at their base in Kamanyola in South Kivu province to the national police as part of a phased pullout agreed between the government and the UN last year.

The eastern DRC has long been overrun by dozens of armed groups seeking a share of the region’s gold and other resources. 

The UN has been operating in the country for 25 years, with its primary mission being the protection of civilians. 

But frustrated Congolese say that no-one is protecting them from rebel attacks, leading to protests against the UN mission and others that have at times turned deadly.

The mission is expected to close 14 bases and facilities in South Kivu by June, at which point the UN security council will set a timeline for the rest of the withdrawal.

The pullout comes amid soaring violence in recent weeks as one of the most active rebel groups, M23, launched attacks against a community considered the last line of defence before the region's largest city of Goma.

The allegedly Rwandan-linked group was dormant for nearly a decade but resurfaced more than two years ago. Its fighters are accused of seizing swathes of land, forcing thousands of people to flee and causing a dire humanitarian crisis.

Kamanyola resident Ushindi Kulimushi said it was time for the DRC security forces to protect the country.

He said: "When [the UN] arrived, we thought we would see a serious crackdown on insecurity. 

"But unfortunately, we have experienced the same thing up to the present day. Let [the peacekeeping force] go, because it has failed in its mission.”