The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has deployed three military officers to the city of Goma to take part in monitoring compliance with the ceasefire in the eastern part of the country. This deployment is part of ongoing efforts to oversee the implementation of ceasefire arrangements in eastern DRC.
The officers include Lt. Col. Ben Epule Cosmas, who is leading the team, Maj. Lokuli Bofanda Fredy, and Maj. Kitoko Dimonekene André. They arrived in Goma on July 13, 2026, aboard a United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) aircraft.
They were accompanied by the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Deputy Head of MONUSCO, Vivian van de Perre.
The DRC government deployed the officers following discussions held on July 2 between Minister of Defence Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita and MONUSCO Head James Swan on mechanisms for monitoring the ceasefire.
The ceasefire will be monitored by the Enhanced Joint Verification Mechanism Plus (EJVM+), an updated international monitoring body established under the Doha talks between the DRC government and AFC/M23, as well as the Washington peace agreement.
Based in Goma, the EJVM+ has the primary mandate of overseeing the protection of civilians, supporting reforms across various sectors in the DRC, and monitoring compliance with the ceasefire in accordance with the decisions reached in Doha and Washington.
Muri Mutarama 2026, umuryango w’akarere k’Ibiyaga Bigari watangaje ko Brig Gen Charles Simuyuni Nakeempaa wo muri Zambia ari we uzayobora EJVM+, yungirizwe na Col Arlindo Sebastião Vandunem Fernandes wo muri Angola.
Nk’uko amasezerano atangiza uru rwego yasinyiwe i Montreux mu Busuwisi tariki ya 14 Mata 2026 abiteganya, Leta ya RDC igomba kugira abantu batatu bayihagararira muri uru rwego, AFC/M23 na yo ikagira batatu, abandi bakaba ab’inzego mpuzamahanga.
MONUSCO, nk’urwego rugenzura umunsi ku wundi umutekano wo mu burasirazuba bwa RDC, izajya iha EJVM+ ubufasha burimo ubw’ibikoresho, nko gutwara abagenzura agahenge mu bice bashaka gukoreramo ikoresheje indege zayo.
In January 2026, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) announced that Brig. Gen. Charles Simuyuni Nakeempaa of Zambia would lead the Enhanced Joint Verification Mechanism Plus (EJVM+), with Col. Arlindo Sebastião Vandunem Fernandes of Angola serving as his deputy.
Under the agreement establishing the mechanism, which was signed in Montreux, Switzerland, on April 14, 2026, the DRC government is required to appoint three representatives to the body, while AFC/M23 is also entitled to appoint three representatives. The remaining members will come from international organizations.
As the organization responsible for the day-to-day monitoring of security in eastern DRC, MONUSCO will provide logistical and operational support to the EJVM+, including transporting ceasefire monitors to designated areas using its aircraft.
