UN Peacekeeping Chief Begins Visit for Ceasefire Consultations

Kinshasa DRC February 9, 2026 - The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, begins a three-day official visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Monday, as efforts intensify to implement a ceasefire in the eastern region of the country. According to the United Nations (UN), the visit will include consultations with national and provincial authorities, as well as meetings with members of the political class, civil society, and religious organizations. Discussions are expected to focus on the evolving security situation and the progress of the ceasefire process. In line with UN Security Council Resolution 2808 (2025), the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is mandated to support the implementation of a permanent ceasefire. The mission’s support includes technical and logistical assistance to the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region within the framework of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus. As part of this mechanism, an initial team of peacekeepers is set to deploy to Uvira, in South Kivu, to assist in monitoring the ceasefire. MONUSCO clarified that the deployment does not signal a permanent redeployment to the province, but rather constitutes limited and targeted support strictly confined to the verification framework. Currently, MONUSCO forces remain deployed in Ituri and North Kivu provinces. The mission officially completed its withdrawal from South Kivu in June 2024, as part of its phased disengagement plan agreed upon with the Congolese government.