By KT Reporter
Vivian van de Perre, acting head of United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) on thursday fled to Goma city in North Kivu province as part of efforts to support preparations for monitoring and verification of the ceasefire between the DR Congo government and the March 23 Movement/Alliance River Congo M23/AFC rebels.
Perre landed at Goma International Airport at around 11:0AM while using a UN chopper. This is the first landing since the airport and Goma city fell into the hands of the M23/AFC rebels in January 2025.
After landing, Perre told the press that her visit aims to exchange with the various stakeholders in order to advance the practical arrangements related to the ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism. Perre says that among stakeholders to exchange with include the M23/AFC rebels’ leaders.
Perre states that among her objectives is the discussion with the parties concerned by the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) program, aimed at helping to ease the conflict pitting the AFC/M23 against the Kinshasa government. She says that the mission to Goma comes after consultation with Congolese national authorities.
Both M23/AFC rebels and DR Congo government authorities have not yet released a statement reacting to Perre’s official visit to Goma city.
Once the visit bears positive results, the development could see Goma airport resume operations.
Perre’s visit to Goma city follows the October 2025 Ceasefire Monitoring and Verification Mechanism signed between M23/AFC rebels and DR Congo government in Qatar’s capital, Doha, as well as a framework agreement signed in November 2025 as one of the steps towards implementation of the peace process in the war-torn eastern part of the country.
In accordance with Security Council resolution 2808 (2025), MONUSCO is authorized to support the implementation of a permanent ceasefire. This support includes technical and logistical assistance to the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region ICGLR, through EJVM.
Despite ceasefire declarations in place, clashes between the DR Congo government army and M23/AFC rebels have recently pitted various fronts in South Kivu province, specifically Mwenga, Fizi, i and Minembwe.
Both parties accuse each other of ceasefire violations.M23/AFC rebels claimed responsibility for being behind the attacks against the government’s International Airport of Bangoka, located in Kisangani, Tshopo Province, between January 31 and February 1, 2026.
The M23 claimed that all the drones precisely reached the target and destroyed the command centre of the government army that was being used as a primary hub for planning and executing well-coordinated, deadly operations targeting civilian populations as well as M23/AFC positions in liberated areas of Masisi, Walikale, Rutshuru, Lubero, Kalehe, Mwenga, and Minembwe.
Amid internet shutdown in North and South Kivu provinces for close to two months, the DR Congo government, through Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluk, a statement on wednesday issed a statement ordering for immediate technical investigation into the case concerning the illegal use of Congolese frequencies by the telecommunications company MTN Rwanda, yet Rwanda, as a country, is accused of backing M23/AFC rebels.
This decision followed a meeting with the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, José Mpanda Kabangu, accompanied by the President of the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPTC) and representatives of the main mobile phone operators in the DR Congo, including Airtel, Orange, and Vodacom.
At the heart of the discussions was the issue of accusations against MTN Rwanda’s illegal occupation of national frequencies by installing network boosters and the sale of MTN Rwanda simcards in Rutshuru territory and Goma city, where the network problem is worse.
But Oscar Barinda, Deputy Political Spokesperson of the AFC/M23 rebel group, had refuted the accusations.
Since its resurgence in 2022 under leaders Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga, the Congolese government has consistently accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, claims denied by both Kigali and the group.
M23 says its objective is to fight corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within the Democratic Republic of Congo’s political leadership. In early 2025, M23 launched a rapid offensive across eastern Congo, capturing several key towns and heightening fears of a broader regional conflict.
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