The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the leadership of the AFC/M23 alliance have begun cooperating through the MCVE+ mechanism, made up of representatives from FARDC and the AFC/M23 armed group, tasked with verifying compliance with the ceasefire in eastern DRC.
This expanded mechanism, called MCVE+ (Mécanisme Conjoint de Vérification Élargi, or Joint Expanded Verification Mechanism), operates at the military level and has now begun its work verifying compliance with the ceasefire between the Kinshasa government and the AFC/M23 alliance, which have been engaged in fighting in eastern DRC.
Journalist Steve Wembi, who closely follows the conflict, reported that Tshisekedi’s camp is now collaborating with AFC/M23, following the MCVE+ mechanism becoming operational.
“The experts designated by both parties, Kinshasa and AFC/M23, were received this morning by the commander of the EJVM+ in Goma,” Wembi wrote on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
“On this occasion, the commander welcomed them and presented the region’s expectations regarding the MCVE+, particularly the verification of compliance with the ceasefire in order to promote lasting peace and contribute to calming the population,/” he reported.
“He also reaffirmed the neutrality of the mechanism and called on the experts from both parties to demonstrate professionalism in carrying out their mission,” Wembi added.
“He said that the experts will work without any political influence but will base themselves solely on the facts,” Wembi wrote.
This joint mechanism between FARDC and AFC/M23 is one of the forms of cooperation between the Kinshasa government and the AFC/M23 alliance, a group Tshisekedi and his administration had previously condemned, with Tshisekedi himself once saying that as long as he remained in power, he would never negotiate with the group.
However, this has since changed, as the alliance has been engaged in talks with the DRC government for some time, mediated by Qatar, during which it has shown willingness to meet the conditions required to move things forward.
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