GOMA — Vivian van de Perre, MONUSCO's interim Head of Mission, arrived at Goma Airport on the morning of Thursday, February 12, 2026, to advance preparations for ceasefire monitoring and verification in eastern DRC.
Speaking on arrival, van de Perre noted that she was on the first aircraft to land at the airport since January 2025, marking a potential step toward the airport's gradual reopening. Her visit is focused on establishing the technical and logistical framework for MONUSCO's monitoring role under the current ceasefire agreement.
The arrival represents a visible UN commitment to the monitoring process. Whether it translates into effective accountability for ceasefire violations — a persistent failure of previous UN monitoring missions in the DRC — remains the core question.