Established nearly four months ago in Montreux, the Joint Expanded Verification Mechanism (MCVE+), intended to oversee adherence to the ceasefire between Kinshasa and the AFC/M23, has yet to commence its vital operations. The primary obstacle stems from the expulsion of one of three Congolese officers by the Rwanda-backed movement. These officers were dispatched to Goma in mid-July to represent the FARDC within the monitoring framework. The AFC/M23 alleges that the expelled officer previously served in military intelligence. This situation raises critical questions: how are Congolese authorities responding to these accusations, and what are the immediate consequences of this stalemate on the ground?

By Yacouba Ouédraogo — Investigative journalist