A UN mission will deploy to DR Congo’s east to monitor a ceasefire between the government and M23 rebels, following mediation talks in Qatar

KINSHASA: The United Nations will soon deploy a mission to the volatile east of the Democratic Republic of Congo to help enforce a fragile ceasefire.

Mediator Qatar announced the move following a meeting in Doha between representatives of the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group and envoys from the Kinshasa government.

The two sides agreed on arrangements to establish a monitoring mechanism for a “permanent” ceasefire, according to a Qatari foreign ministry statement.

Officials from the United States, the African Union and the UN mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) attended the talks as observers.

An intervention by MONUSCO was factored into recent agreements aimed at ending the long-running conflict.

The M23 seized the major cities of Goma in January 2025 and Bukavu the following month.

Qatar has been mediating for several months, with a ceasefire commitment signed in July.

A separate agreement was ratified in early December in Washington by the DRC and Rwanda, though fighting has continued.

Recent clashes have been reported near the town of Minembwe in South Kivu province, according to local sources.

Qatar stated that MONUSCO will monitor and verify a ceasefire in the strategic border city of Uvira.

Uvira, a city of several hundred thousand inhabitants, fell to the M23 and its Rwandan allies in early December.

The armed group withdrew after about 10 days, allowing Congolese armed forces to retake control.

In a statement, MONUSCO said it had strengthened internal preparedness to support the ceasefire process.

The mission added that it would be transparent about the nature of its support.

 The Sun Malaysia