Ceasefire Mission Deploys to Congo After Swiss Peace Roadmap

A ceasefire verification mission deployed to the town of Minembwe in the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo on August 24, 2026. Transported by United Nations helicopters, the mission includes military experts from the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region tasked with verifying ceasefire violations and visiting Uvira and Kalehe.

This deployment follows closed-door negotiations in Switzerland from August 17 to 21, where the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the M23 rebel group agreed on a roadmap for peace talks. The agreement builds upon a previous US-brokered framework signed in Doha in July 2025. The parties have now committed to a standardized method for reporting violations and a mechanism to review the implementation of the Doha Framework Agreement.

Despite these diplomatic efforts, the truce remains fragile. The Congolese government recently accused the M23 of killing over 300 people in June and July, while the rebels accused government forces of launching a deadly artillery attack near Minembwe. Rwandan President Paul Kagame has rejected claims that Rwanda backs the M23, instead citing the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) as a primary security threat and warning that Rwanda would act to protect itself if the FDLR problem is not resolved.