UN MONUSCO Chief’s First Visit to Goma Focuses on Ceasefire Monitoring and Humanitarian Access. Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo – 24 April 2026 The newly installed head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), James Swan, has made his first official visit to the conflict-affected city of Goma. Arriving on a mission to assess the security situation and push for the effective monitoring of the ceasefire, Swan has engaged with leaders of the Alliance des Forces Combattantes (AFC)/M23 rebellion, which has controlled the region since January 2025.
Swan, who assumed his role as Special Representative of MONUSCO on 7 April 2026, emphasized the importance of adhering to the ceasefire agreement and ensuring the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid during his meeting with the M23 leadership. He outlined key conditions for the Joint Verification Mechanism Plus to operate credibly, including the cessation of offensive drone use and the end to GPS signal jamming, which have been cited as obstacles to the mechanism’s effectiveness.
The visit of the new MONUSCO chief to Goma is a critical development in the ongoing peace efforts in the eastern DRC. With the situation remaining delicate, Swan’s discussions aim to pave the way for the safe resumption of operations at Goma International Airport and to secure a sustainable peace for the region.
The international community’s support and cooperation will be crucial in ensuring the credibility of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism and the resolution of the ongoing conflict.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Africanews
Source: Rédaction Africanews
