DR Congo Accepts Frontline Freeze Proposal by Angola as UN Readies to Monitor Ceasefire

Kinshasa’s acceptance of a “strict and immediate” freeze of positions signals a tactical pause rather than a political settlement, as regional and international mediators attempt to stabilize front lines hardened by successive failed truces.

The presidency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo said the head of state had “accepted the principle of a ceasefire” and endorsed a halt to troop movements and reinforcements.

The proposal follows a call by Angola for both Kinshasa and the Rwanda-backed M23 to respect a truce starting February 18. The militia has not formally responded.

Frontline Freeze Framework

For the first time since talks resumed, the government outlined implementation terms. These include the “strict and immediate freezing of positions,” an end to military reinforcement, and cessation of troop rotation or offensive resupply. It also demanded “an end to all external support to armed groups operating on national territory.”

Eastern Congo has endured nearly 30 years of conflict involving dozens of armed groups.

Since M23’s resurgence in 2021, at least six ceasefires and truces have been signed and subsequently broken.

Violence escalated sharply in January last year when M23 seized Goma, capital of North Kivu, followed by Bukavu in February.

Peacekeeping Capacity Gap

The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo maintains about 7,000 peacekeepers in the east.

On February 12, Reuters reported the mission would dispatch reconnaissance flights to Uvira to prepare to monitor any ceasefire between the government and the AFC M23 rebel alliance.

Acting mission head Vivian van de Perre confirmed an air reconnaissance mission in coming days.

Uvira, near the Burundi border, was seized in December before M23 withdrew under U.S. pressure.

On December 20, the United Nations Security Council urged Rwanda to withdraw from eastern Congo and renewed MONUSCO’s mandate amid renewed fighting.

Despite a U.S. brokered accord formalized in Washington in December and a July ceasefire commitment mediated by Qatar, violence has persisted as the fighting continued.

Authorities said in December some 200,000 people had fled a renewed M23 offensive, with 74 killed and 83 wounded as rebels advanced toward Uvira.

The African Union appointed Faure Gnassingbe to steer mediation, with Angolan President Joao Lourenco involved in negotiations.

A previous Angolan led effort collapsed in late 2024 before a planned Luanda summit.

The current initiative attempts to align African Union diplomacy, UN monitoring and bilateral accords into a single enforcement track.

Whether the February 18 deadline translates into an operational pause will depend on compliance by both Kinshasa and M23, and on the capacity of MONUSCO’s 7,000 strong deployment to verify a freeze across contested terrain.