The AFC/M23 rebel movement have just achieved a major milestone in their struggle for Self determination following the arrival of UN’s chief of Peacekeeping.

Vivian van de Perre, acting head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) arrived on Thursday in Goma city and held talks with the AFC/M23 Rebels on Friday.

“Talks focused on “the concrete implementation of the ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism in line with the agreement signed by the AFC/M23 and the government of the DRC” under the Doha process,” Vivian van da Pierre said.

The rebels control the entire North and south Kivu provinces largely inhabited by ethnic Tutsi Congolese who have endured decades of discrimination in their our country.

“It is essential that commitments made in this agreement quickly translate into clear, credible and verifiable operational arrangements on the ground,” she said.

Benjamin Mbonimpa, on behalf of the AFC/M23, welcomed MONUSCO’s role, saying it was expected to support the process “with logistical assistance” within the ceasefire verification framework.

Mbonimpa noted that UN personnel would enjoy full security in areas under AFC/M23 control, while declining responsibility for areas outside its control.

Mbonimpa also said the group had “not been informed or invited” regarding the ceasefire proposed by Angola as part of regional mediation efforts, while accusing Kinshasa of repeated ceasefire violations on the ground.

Angola, which has served as a key mediator in the DRC crisis since 2022, proposed late Wednesday that a ceasefire between the Congolese government and the M23 rebel group take effect on February 18th.