UN mission chief meets M23 leaders in rebel-held Goma to discuss ceasefire

Vivian van de Perre, acting head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), met with leaders of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group in Goma on Friday to discuss a ceasefire monitoring mechanism.



The meeting comes as diplomatic efforts intensify to stabilize the country's volatile east.



Van de Perre arrived on Thursday in the capital of North Kivu province aboard a helicopter, landing at Goma's airport since the seizure of the city by the rebel group in January 2025 amid deteriorating security conditions. Her visit comes as part of efforts to operationalize a ceasefire monitoring mechanism envisaged within the broader regional peace architecture.