An M23 pickup truck drove through Goma, capital of North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on January 15, 2026. /CFP

A team tasked with monitoring ceasefire violations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo government and the M23 rebel group arrived in Minembwe, South Kivu province, on Monday, as clashes continued in parts of the region.

The team was transported by two helicopters operated by the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO). It includes military experts from member states of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), along with representatives of the DRC government and M23, with support from MONUSCO.

The deployment marks the first field mission of the ceasefire verification mechanism, which is tasked with documenting and reporting alleged violations of the truce.

The deployment comes two days after the DRC government and M23 agreed on a roadmap for a peace initiative.

In a joint statement issued Saturday, the two sides welcomed progress in establishing an expanded joint verification mechanism and confirmed that the first ceasefire verification mission would take place in Minembwe.

However, tensions remain high in South Kivu, where fighting between M23 and government forces and their allies has continued in recent weeks, including in areas around Minembwe.

On Monday, the DRC government also accused M23 of serious human rights violations in areas under its control. It said more than 300 people were killed in alleged summary executions, massacres and bombings in June and July.

M23 has intensified its offensives in eastern DRC since January 2025, seizing territory in North Kivu and South Kivu.

Kinshasa authorities and M23 have been engaged in peace talks under Qatari mediation. In July, the two sides signed a declaration of principles in Doha, following a framework agreement reached in November 2025, under which they committed to continued negotiations toward a comprehensive peace settlement.

Source: CGTN