Kathmandu— A ceasefire monitoring mission has been deployed to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to assess adherence to a truce agreement between the DRC’s armed forces and the M23 rebel group, which is accused of receiving support from Rwanda. The United Nations and government sources confirmed Monday that the team arrived to track progress on the Qatari-mediated ceasefire, though fighting continues in the mineral-rich region. The deployment follows recent agreements aimed at ending a long-running crisis involving multiple armed groups vying for control of eastern DRC’s abundant natural resources.

Monitoring Mission Deployment

The monitoring team has deployed to Minembwe, located in South Kivu province, an area that has seen intense fighting in recent months. The mission is comprised of representatives from the Congolese government and M23, alongside observers from member countries of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) provided logistical support for the deployment.

Roadmap to Peace Talks

On Sunday, the Swiss government announced that DRC and M23 representatives had agreed upon a roadmap for peace talks following closed-door negotiations. This agreement builds on a ceasefire signed in Doha, Qatar in July 2025. The mission’s mandate includes verifying any violations of this existing ceasefire.

Persistent Conflict and Accusations

Despite the agreements and deployment of monitors, fighting has continued on the ground. Multiple armed groups, including M23 and the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), are battling for control of eastern DRC’s mineral-rich provinces. Both sides have accused each other of abuses and ceasefire violations; the DRC recently condemned alleged “crimes and serious rights violations” committed by M23 in territory under its control, claiming the group killed over 300 people in June and July. A spokesperson for M23 refuted these accusations, alleging that government forces launched an artillery attack on a village near Minembwe.

Regional Peace Efforts

Peace efforts led by Qatar and the United States have been ongoing to resolve the crisis. In December, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame signed a “historic” peace and economic agreement aimed at ending the fighting, five months after initially agreeing to a ceasefire. However, these agreements have yet to fully translate into a cessation of hostilities.

The monitoring mission is scheduled to visit Uvira, where M23 withdrew in January, as well as Kalehe, which has recently experienced renewed fighting. The effectiveness of the mission will depend on its ability to verify compliance with the ceasefire and facilitate meaningful peace negotiations.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.