Amidst persistent hostilities between government forces and the AFC/M23 rebellion, reportedly backed by Rwanda and controlling significant areas in the North and South Kivu provinces, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) has reiterated its commitment to supporting ongoing peace initiatives. These efforts, including the Washington Agreement and the African Union-backed Doha process, aim to restore peace and stability in the troubled eastern DRC.

James Swan, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of MONUSCO, confirmed this readiness on Thursday, July 2nd, following a meeting with the Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense and Former Combatants, Guy Kabombo, at the Defense Hotel. Swan highlighted MONUSCO’s role in bolstering the operational and logistical capabilities of the Enhanced Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM+). This initiative is part of the mission’s broader support for regional endeavors to foster peace and stability in eastern DRC.

“Since December 2025, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2808, we have been given a renewed mandate to support the ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism. We discussed our ongoing efforts to implement this mandate and how we intend to collaborate with the Ministry of National Defense and Former Combatants to achieve MONUSCO’s objectives,” stated the head of the UN mission after the discussion.

With urgent appeals from various partners of the DRC, notably during the Washington Agreement review meeting in London and, more recently, at the UN Security Council, for the swift deployment of the first ceasefire verification mission in the country’s east, MONUSCO’s chief affirmed the institution’s preparedness. He indicated that the mission awaits only the official designation of sites for verification operations.

“MONUSCO has already contributed to the implementation of the Enhanced Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM+). Our mandate includes providing logistical and security support for the activities of the EJVM+. Following further requests, we have offered logistical assistance and are currently planning to support missions to identified ceasefire monitoring sites. We are prepared as soon as the mechanism decides on the locations to visit,” James Swan assured.

Furthermore, the MONUSCO head and the Vice-Prime Minister of National Defense also reviewed other aspects of the UN mission’s mandate. James Swan underscored the critical need to strengthen collaboration between MONUSCO, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC).

“MONUSCO maintains close cooperation with the Ministry of National Defense and Former Combatants, as well as with DRC authorities. Given that MONUSCO still comprises over 8,000 military personnel and works in strong partnership with the FARDC, particularly in the Grand North and Ituri, I wanted to share some of our activities with the Minister and reiterate our primary mandates, which include civilian protection, disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of armed groups, along with our support for security sector reform,” James Swan elaborated.

This high-level meeting occurred after calls from the United States and other DRC partners, just days after the London meeting of the sixth session of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC). That gathering focused on the implementation of the Washington Agreement, an accord designed to restore peace and security in the Great Lakes region, especially in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

At the conclusion of the London talks, Kinshasa and Kigali reaffirmed a series of commitments aimed at accelerating the implementation of agreements between the two nations. According to the final communiqué released, both parties pledged to “request the adjustment of the EJVM+ (Enhanced Joint Verification Mechanism Plus) mandate to include verification of commitments made under the Washington Agreements.”

The DRC and Rwanda also agreed to “support the rapid deployment of the EJVM+ to undertake its first verification mission,” while also “urging all actors on the ground to support this initiative.”

Moreover, the two countries promised to “create political and security conditions conducive to joint verification processes,” a prerequisite deemed essential for the effectiveness of the peace mechanisms.

In line with UN Security Council Resolution 2808 (2025), MONUSCO is authorized to provide support for the implementation of a permanent ceasefire. This support includes technical and logistical assistance to the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) through the Enhanced Joint Verification Mechanism Plus (EJVM+), a crucial component for African politics and governance Africa.