DR Congo: MONUSCO Chief Bintou Keïta Meets M23 Leaders in Goma Amid Fragile Tensions

Edited by : Widad WAHBI

In a rare and symbolic move, Bintou Keïta, head of the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, held a meeting with commanders of the M23 rebel group during her three-day official visit to Goma , the provincial capital of North Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This visit marks her first presence in the region since the city’s takeover in January by the Congolese Patriotic and Resistance Front (AFC), supported by Rwanda.

Keïta’s arrival in Goma signals a cautious diplomatic engagement at a time when international actors face growing pressure to address the escalating violence and worsening humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo. Her meetings with M23 leadership were held under heightened security and remain confidential in content.

While MONUSCO has faced criticism over its perceived inaction in the region, Keïta’s visit reflects an effort to reassert the mission’s presence and seek de-escalation channels in a conflict that has displaced millions and strained relations between Kinshasa and Kigali.