Joint Ceasefire Verification Mission Deploys to Eastern DR Congo

A joint mission to verify a fragile ceasefire between the Congolese army and the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 armed group was deployed on Monday to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as both sides exchanged accusations of human rights abuses.

The eastern DRC has been plagued by decades of conflict involving multiple armed groups vying for control over its mineral-rich territory. The M23, in particular, seized significant portions of the region last year, escalating tensions.

Previous peace efforts led by Qatar and the United States aimed to end the crisis, resulting in the signing of two separate accords last year.

The Congolese government and the AFC/M23 signed a ceasefire commitment in Doha in July 2025, while the DRC and Rwanda formalized a US-brokered peace deal in December in Washington. Despite these agreements, sporadic fighting has persisted on the ground.

On Sunday, the Swiss government announced that the DRC and AFC/M23 had agreed to a roadmap for peace talks following negotiations in Switzerland. The statement also highlighted the upcoming deployment of a regional verification mechanism to monitor ceasefire violations.

The verification mechanism consists of representatives from the Congolese government and the AFC/M23, alongside observers from member countries of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).

This unprecedented mission was deployed on Monday via UN helicopters to Minembwe in South Kivu province, a hotspot of intense clashes in recent months, according to UN and government sources.

The mission is also scheduled to visit the lakeside town of Uvira—recently vacated by the AFC/M23—as well as the territory of Kalehe, where recent fighting has been reported, according to South Kivu Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi.

As of Monday, neither the DRC nor the AFC/M23 authorities had issued a formal response regarding the deployment of the verification mission.

Alleged abuses

Past mediation efforts have repeatedly failed to establish lasting peace in the eastern DRC, where numerous armed factions operate. In April, the DRC and AFC/M23 agreed to facilitate humanitarian aid and the release of prisoners following Swiss-mediated talks. An initial group of prisoners was transferred to the M23 by the Congolese government earlier this month.

Closed-door talks held from August 17 to August 21 involved representatives from the United States, Qatar, Switzerland, the African Union Commission, and Togo, which served as the African Union mediator. During these discussions, both parties emphasized the need for a standardized method to report ceasefire violations.

The parties also agreed to establish a review mechanism to assess progress and address challenges in implementing obligations under the Doha Framework Agreement.

In a statement on Monday, the DRC condemned what it described as “crimes and serious human rights violations” allegedly committed by the M23 in areas under its control, accusing the group of killing over 300 people during June and July.

In response, an AFC/M23 spokesperson on social media platform X accused government forces of launching a “deadly artillery attack” on a village near Minembwe.

Both sides continue to regularly accuse each other of abuses and ceasefire violations, often without independent verification. The highly contested area around Minembwe has been particularly difficult for international organizations to access.

Reports from NGOs and UN experts have indicated that the AFC/M23 has also suppressed dissenting voices, including journalists and human rights activists, in the territories it controls.

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