The decision was announced on Monday, February 2, at the conclusion of a meeting of the Ceasefire Oversight and Verification Mechanism held in Doha and hosted by the State of Qatar. During the meeting, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and AFC/M23 signed the terms of reference stemming from the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), formalising procedures for monitoring, verification and information exchange in support of the peace process in eastern DRC.
According to the statement, members of the mechanism 'tasked MONUSCO with dispatching the first field mission to the city of Uvira to monitor the ceasefire in the coming days,' adding that the necessary field communication channels had been established to facilitate the mission's work.
Both parties also renewed their commitment to the ceasefire and to the Doha Framework Agreement for Peace signed on November 15, 2025, reaffirming their determination to implement 'all obligations stipulated therein in good faith, in support of the peaceful process.'
The meeting was attended by members of the mechanism, with the United States and the African Union participating as observers. The Republic of Togo attended in its capacity as the African Unionâ€"appointed mediator, alongside representatives of MONUSCO and the ICGLR.
Participants reviewed developments on the ground and discussed existing challenges to the ceasefire. Emphasis was placed on the need for practical measures to strengthen monitoring and verification, particularly through coordinated field missions. In this context, MONUSCO was tasked with dispatching its first ceasefire monitoring mission to Uvira, with dedicated communication channels established to support the mission's work.
Uvira has been a focal point in recent months. AFC/M23 captured the strategic city in South Kivu late last year, describing the move as an effort to protect civilians from what it alleged were ethnic atrocities committed by coalition forces aligned with the Kinshasa government and its allies. The group later announced a unilateral withdrawal, framing the move as a confidence-building measure aimed at supporting the Doha peace process.
In a statement dated December 15, 2025, AFC/M23 said the withdrawal followed progress in the Doha talks and was carried out at the request of United States mediation. The alliance said it opted to pull back its forces despite what it described as continued provocations by the Congolese army (FARDC) and allied militias, arguing that the move was intended to give the peace process 'the maximum chance' to succeed.
At the same time, AFC/M23 warned against a security vacuum in Uvira and called for concrete measures, including demilitarisation, protection of civilians and infrastructure, and neutral ceasefire monitoring.
Despite the renewed commitments in Doha, tensions persist. Both the Congolese government and AFC/M23 have continued to accuse each other of ceasefire violations. The Kinshasa administration, in particular, has been accused by AFC/M23 of targeting civilian populations through drone attacks.
Observers say the success of MONUSCO's mission in Uvira, and the broader credibility of the peace process, will depend on whether commitments made in Doha translate into restraint on the ground and improved protection for civilians in South Kivu.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
