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A joint verification team deployed to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday to monitor a fragile ceasefire between the Congolese military and the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group.
Deployed via UN helicopters to South Kivu province, the team—comprising Congolese officials, M23 representatives, and observers from the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region—will inspect clash sites in Minembwe, Uvira, and Kalehe.
The deployment follows Swiss-brokered negotiations where both sides agreed to a new roadmap and a formal mechanism to log ceasefire breaches.
Despite the diplomatic progress, both parties continue to trade accusations.
The DRC government accused M23 of killing over 300 civilians in recent months, while M23 leadership alleged government forces launched artillery strikes on civilian positions near Minembwe.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame reiterated denials of direct support for M23, maintaining that peace efforts will fail until regional forces address Hutu militant groups operating in eastern DRC.
Meanwhile, international observers and human rights organisations report ongoing abuses and heavy restrictions on journalists and activists in rebel-controlled territories.
