Zambian General Charles Simuyuni Nakeempa Visits Goma as EJVM+ Head Amid Ongoing Clashes

Goma, March 8, 2026 - GOMA, North Kivu February 25, 2026 - Brigadier General Charles Simuyuni Nakeempa of Zambia, newly appointed head of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus (EJVM+), arrived in Goma on Wednesday, February 25, marking his first visit since taking command. He is accompanied by a five-member delegation amid ongoing hostilities between government forces and AFC/M23 rebels across North Kivu and South Kivu.

According to MONUSCO, the delegation reaffirmed its support for ongoing peace efforts and indicated that the finalized 2026 action plan will be shared with the UN Mission to guide monitoring and verification operations. This initiative is part of MONUSCO’s mandate under UN Security Council Resolution 2808 (2025), which emphasizes support for peace and stability in eastern DRC, including the implementation of ceasefire monitoring mechanisms.

In parallel, MONUSCO and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) have deployed a joint exploratory and preliminary assessment mission to Uvira, South Kivu, running from February 23 to 27, 2026. The mission follows consultations with President Félix Tshisekedi, current Chair of the ICGLR, and serves as a prelude to the future deployment of the joint ceasefire monitoring mechanism.

The primary objective of this exploratory mission is operational, aiming to ensure that future monitoring and verification mechanisms are credible, secure, and operationally feasible. Teams will assess accessibility, security, logistics, and engagement needs to ensure the effective functioning of the mechanism. A thorough evaluation of political, security, logistical, and socio-environmental conditions around Uvira will guide coherent planning for future operations, with final deployment configurations dependent on agreed parameters and operational requirements.

The ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, signed in Doha on October 14, 2025, resulted from the sixth round of talks between the Congolese government and AFC/M23, mediated by Qatar. Implementation on the ground has faced challenges due to the reduced operational capacity of the EJVM, and the new command under General Simuyuni Nakeempa is tasked with revitalizing the mechanism to ensure effective monitoring and credible peace processes.

This visit follows recent field trips by MONUSCO leadership to eastern DRC, including meetings with AFC/M23 authorities, and was reinforced by United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who reiterated the UN’s commitment to fully execute MONUSCO’s updated mandate.

The deployment of EJVM+ under new leadership is expected to strengthen ceasefire monitoring, facilitate conflict de-escalation, and support ongoing peace initiatives in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.