A ceasefire monitoring mission has arrived in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to assess violations of a truce between the Congolese army and M23 rebels.
The mission was deployed to Minembwe in South Kivu, a mineral-rich region that has continued to experience heavy fighting despite peace agreements aimed at ending the conflict.
The monitoring team includes representatives of the Congolese government and M23, alongside observers from countries belonging to the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). The United Nations also provided logistical support for the deployment.
The team is expected to visit Uvira and Kalehe, areas that have recently been affected by fighting. Uvira was previously occupied by M23 before the group withdrew earlier this year.
The deployment comes shortly after the Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 agreed on a roadmap for peace talks following negotiations supported by Switzerland and Qatar.
However, tensions remain high. The Congolese government has accused M23 of serious human-rights violations, including the killing of more than 300 people in June and July. M23 has rejected the accusations and instead accused government forces of carrying out deadly artillery attacks.
The conflict in eastern DR Congo has involved several armed groups and has displaced large numbers of civilians. Rwanda has also faced international accusations of supporting M23, allegations it has disputed.
The new monitoring mission is therefore expected to play an important role in determining whether both sides are respecting the ceasefire and creating conditions for lasting peace.
In short: A ceasefire monitoring team is now on the ground in eastern DR Congo, but continued clashes between government forces and M23 are threatening efforts to bring the long-running conflict to an end.
