First joint ceasefire verification mission deploys to South Kivu

A ceasefire verification mission comprising representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government, the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebel group, and observers from International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) member nations arrived in South Kivu on Monday. The deployment followed the DRC and AFC/M23 agreeing on a Switzerland-mediated roadmap for peace talks.

The mission, described as the first of its kind, was deployed by United Nations helicopters to Minembwe. It is scheduled to visit Uvira and Kalehe territory to verify violations of the fragile ceasefire between the Congolese army and AFC/M23.

The deployment comes amid ongoing tensions, with the DRC condemning alleged crimes and human rights violations by M23. The government accused the group of killing more than 300 people in June and July. Conversely, an AFC/M23 spokesperson accused government forces of launching a deadly artillery attack on a village near Minembwe.

This verification mechanism is part of a broader diplomatic effort to stabilise the region, which has been riven by decades of conflict over mineral-rich territory. Previous peace efforts led by Qatar and the United States resulted in a ceasefire commitment in Doha in July 2025 and a US-brokered peace deal between the DRC and Rwanda in December.

Further negotiations held in Switzerland in April saw the DRC and AFC/M23 agree to facilitate humanitarian aid and release prisoners. New talks were subsequently held behind closed doors from August 17 to August 21, involving representatives from the United States, Qatar, Switzerland, the African Union Commission, and Togo.

The Swiss government announced on Sunday that the two sides had agreed on the importance of a standardised method for reporting allegations of ceasefire violations. They also agreed to establish a mechanism tasked with reviewing progress and addressing challenges in the implementation of obligations under the Doha Framework Agreement.