UN Deploys Team to Eastern DR Congo as Ceasefire Falters
The UN mission, known as United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) confirmed Tuesday that the exploratory mission will travel to Uvira in South Kivu province from Feb. 23–27.
According to a joint statement, the visit is aimed at evaluating security, political and logistical conditions ahead of launching a mechanism to monitor an Angolan-brokered ceasefire between the Congolese government and the AFC/M23 rebel coalition.
The statement said the deployment followed consultations with Congolese President and ICGLR Chair Felix Tshisekedi.
It added that the primary objective of the joint mission is to ensure future ceasefire monitoring is “credible, safe, and operationally feasible.”
“Effective ceasefire monitoring is intended to reduce violence and create the necessary space for a durable political solution,” said Vivian van de Perre, interim head of MONUSCO.
Van de Perre clarified that MONUSCO’s role in South Kivu will be limited strictly to overseeing the ceasefire, unlike its broader mandate in North Kivu and Ituri, where peacekeepers are also tasked with protecting civilians.
The deployment comes as fighting intensifies despite a truce proposed earlier this month by Angolan President Joao Lourenco, which took effect on Feb. 18. Fresh clashes in eastern Congo in recent days have forced thousands to flee their homes.
The March 23 Movement (M23) remains central to the long-running conflict. Since re-emerging in late 2021, the group has secured significant battlefield gains, taking key towns across eastern provinces — including the strategic capitals of Goma and Bukavu, both captured early in 2025.
The Congolese government in Kinshasa, the United Nations and Western governments have accused Rwanda of backing the rebels — allegations Kigali has repeatedly denied.
With violence flaring even as diplomatic efforts advance, the success of the monitoring mechanism may prove pivotal in determining whether the ceasefire can hold — or collapse.
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