MONUSCO and ICGLR Deploy Joint Assessment Mission to Uvira to Support Ceasefire

UVIRA, South Kivu February 24, 2026 - The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) have launched a joint exploratory and preliminary assessment mission in Uvira, South Kivu, as part of efforts to support the implementation and monitoring of the ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The mission, scheduled to run from February 23 to 27, 2026, follows consultations with President Félix Tshisekedi, who currently serves as Chair of the ICGLR. According to a joint statement released Tuesday, the deployment represents a crucial preparatory step toward the future establishment of a joint ceasefire monitoring mechanism within the framework of the broader regional ceasefire architecture. The primary objective of the mission is operational and technical, focusing on ensuring that future monitoring and verification mechanisms are credible, secure, and operationally feasible. Teams on the ground will assess accessibility, security conditions, logistical requirements, and operational needs necessary for the effective functioning of the monitoring system. During the mission, the joint delegation will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the political, security, logistical, and socio-environmental environment in and around Uvira, with the goal of facilitating coherent planning for the future deployment of ceasefire monitoring structures. Officials emphasized that effective monitoring of the ceasefire is essential to reducing violence and creating the conditions necessary for a lasting political solution in the region. The acting head of MONUSCO, Vivian van de Perre, noted that the mission’s mandate in South Kivu differs from its operations in North Kivu and Ituri, explaining that MONUSCO’s role in the province is focused primarily on monitoring the ceasefire rather than conducting Protection of Civilians operations, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2808 (2025). She stressed that the current deployment represents an exploratory phase, and that the scope and configuration of any future operations will depend on agreed parameters, security guarantees, and operational requirements. For his part, ICGLR Executive Secretary Dr. Mubita Luwabelwa highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, stating that the Great Lakes region possesses significant potential for peace and prosperity if states work together to address shared security challenges. Both organizations underscored that credible ceasefire monitoring requires favorable operational conditions, including freedom of movement for monitoring teams and reliable security guarantees, which remain key aspects of the ongoing assessment. Under UN Security Council Resolution 2808 (2025), MONUSCO is authorized to support the implementation of a permanent ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This support includes assistance to the Ceasefire Monitoring and Verification Mechanism as well as the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus (EJVM+), established following the signing of the Doha Global Peace Framework on November 15, 2025. The deployment comes amid renewed diplomatic and peacekeeping efforts aimed at stabilizing eastern DRC. It also follows a recent field visit to the region by MONUSCO leadership, during which discussions were held with AFC/M23 representatives, as well as a visit to Kinshasa by United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to implementing MONUSCO’s updated mandate and supporting peace efforts in the region.