The United Nations is calling for “security guarantees” from the conflicting parties in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to facilitate the use of a crucial airport for monitoring a proposed ceasefire. The region has experienced a significant escalation in violence since late 2021, primarily due to the reemergence of the M23 armed group, which is allegedly backed by Rwanda.
Despite a peace agreement signed between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighboring Rwanda in December, aimed at curbing the violence, the fighting continues unabated. This agreement allows the United Nations mission in DRC, known as MONUSCO, to oversee conditions on the ground with the intention of establishing a more stable ceasefire.
In the coming weeks, MONUSCO is expected to deploy personnel to Uvira, a town near the Burundi border that was captured by the M23 in December but later relinquished as a result of pressure from the United States. The UN’s closest peacekeeping base to Uvira is located in Goma, a significant city in eastern DRC that fell to M23 forces in January 2025. Goma’s international airport has remained closed since the city’s capture.
During a visit to the Congolese capital, UN Deputy Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix remarked, “We are not yet in a situation where there is an effective ceasefire in the east. Far from it. But there is a situation in Uvira where the M23 has disengaged.” He elaborated on the UN’s planned approach, stating that the initial steps would involve aerial reconnaissance followed by a limited deployment in Uvira, with the possibility of expanding the presence further.
Lacroix indicated that helicopters used for reconnaissance missions would likely need to operate from Goma airport. However, he emphasized that such operations are contingent upon receiving security assurances from all factions involved in the conflict.
Aid workers active in the region have echoed the call for Goma airport to be reopened, underscoring the necessity for logistical support in their humanitarian efforts. Currently, nearly 8,000 UN peacekeepers, including troops from countries such as Kenya, Pakistan, and Tanzania, are stationed in eastern DRC, working to stabilize a region beset by conflict and humanitarian crises.
