Are China, the African Union, and UN peacekeepers keeping Congo's civilians safe?

"A 2018 EU Court of Auditors evaluation found the AU's African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) framework addressed a significant portion of violent conflicts in Africa through diplomatic, mediatory, or peace operation interventions."

"However, AU’s missions have the limitations of financial barriers as well as dearth of technical capacity."

"In line with the Charter 33 of the United Nations, AU seeks resolution through negotiation, mediation and intermediation without an imposition of authoritative decisi"

"7 avril : prise officielle de fonction de James Swan à la tête de la MONUSCO"

"11 mars : une frappe de drone sur un quartier résidentiel de Goma cause la mort de trois civils, dont une humanitaire française de l' Unicef , provoquant l'ouverture d'une enquête pour « crime de guerre » par la justice française"

"18 – 19 janvier : au Sud-Kivu , les FARDC et les milices wazalendo reprennent le contrôle d' Uvira , à la suite du retrait de l' AFC / M23 de la ville , mais la transition s’accompagne de pillages et d’un exode de civils de la communauté Banyamulenge par crainte de représailles"

"The talks, held behind closed doors from August 17 to August 21, also included representatives from the United States, Qatar , Switzerland , the African Union Commission and Togo , serving as African Union mediator."

"The latest round of talks, held in the Swiss Riviera town of Montreux, included representatives from Qatar, the US, Switzerland, the African Union (AU) Commission, and Togo serving as the AU mediator."

"The African Union (AU) Panel of Facilitators on Wednesday called for strict respect for ceasefire commitments and continued engagement in the ongoing diplomatic peace process following consultations in Goma"

"The two sides said they had "agreed on the importance of a standardised method for reporting allegations of ceasefire violations"."

"The mandates of contemporary PKOs are demanding, calling on peacekeeping personnel to separate belligerent parties, enforce ceasefire agreements, and protect the physical security of civilians."

"Both sides also pledged not to target civilians and to facilitate medical care for the wounded and sick as they noted progress on a protocol for humanitarian access and judicial protections."

"A delegation of the panel held consultations in Goma earlier this week with representatives of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, known as MONUSCO, UN and humanitarian agencies, as well as M23, according to a statement issued by the AU."

"A first ceasefire verification mission is due in Minembwe, in DRC's South Kivu province, on Monday, according to the statement."

"Using monthly data on UN PKOs from 1990 to 2019, we find that increasing operational experience within a peacekeeping coalition reduces civilian fatalities significantly."

"the parties signed a memorandum of understanding for a ceasefire monitoring mechanism that will “begin conducting surveillance, monitoring, verification, and reporting on the implementation of the permanent ceasefire between the parties”."

"In a statement last week, Human Rights Watch accused the parties of blocking aid deliveries and stopping civilians from fleeing the South Kivu highlands."

"Qatar has mediated talks between the DRC government and the M23 since March 2025, hosting several rounds of negotiations under what has become known as the Doha peace process."

"the Force Intervention Brigade led by Southern African Development Community states (South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi) made impact on the peacekeeping process."

"The sides had also agreed to establish a "mechanism tasked with reviewing progress and addressing challenges in implementation of obligations and commitments under the Doha Framework Agreement", it said."

"While the two sides signed a United States-brokered peace agreement in December , fighting has continued, most recently reaching the highland areas of South Kivu, according to media reports."

"called on mediators and facilitators to "go beyond general statements.""

"This mission was authorised in line with Security Council resolution 1674 (2006) vowed to protect civilians in armed conflict which is the current case in the eastern part of DR Congo."

"It found that while extensive progress were made politically, human casualty, and gender violence remained recurrent."

"Although significant progress has been achieved in the DR Congo since the establishment of United Nation’s peacekeeping operation, the eastern part continues to be plagued by recurrent waves of conflict, chronic humanitarian crises and serious human rights violations, including sexual and genderbased violence."