The United Nations has called for firm security guarantees from armed actors in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) before using Goma’s airport to support monitoring of a planned ceasefire. UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said the organization cannot risk flying helicopters while facing threats such as signal jamming and drones operating near aircraft. Goma’s international airport has remained closed since Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seized the city during a major escalation of conflict last year.
Although Kinshasa and Kigali signed a US-brokered peace agreement in December, fighting has continued in the mineral-rich region. The deal assigns the UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, a key role in observing conditions on the ground toward a sustainable ceasefire. Lacroix cautioned that the situation is “far from” a genuine truce.
The UN plans a phased deployment beginning from Uvira, near the Burundi border, where M23 fighters recently withdrew under international pressure but remain nearby. Initial steps include aerial reconnaissance, followed by limited troop deployment and possibly a broader presence. Helicopter operations would likely depend on reopening Goma airport, a move also urged by humanitarian agencies working in the area. Nearly 8,000 UN peacekeepers from countries including Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania, and several Latin American nations are currently stationed in eastern DRC.
