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"Head of the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), James Swan, arrived in Goma on Friday as part of his first field visit to eastern DRC since assuming office. Footage shows Swan holding a meeting with AFC/M23 officials after arriving in the city. Swan said the visit to Goma was essential to implementing a ceasefire agreement between the DRC government and the AFC/M23. "Through this visit, we hope to strengthen the momentum for de-escalation, restore hope to the region’s inhabitants, and support the implementation of the ceasefire for lasting peace in eastern DRC,” Swan told reporters at the airport. He added that the authorities were counting on the cooperation of all warring parties to make rapid progress in this direction. "Goma occupies a central place in the current efforts towards de-escalation, civilian protection, and support for the ongoing peace process," he added. His official visit began in Beni on April 20. This visit comes one week after talks held from April 13–18 in Montreux between representatives of the DRC government and AFC/M23, as part of the Doha process facilitated by Qatar, the United States, and the African Union. After the Montreux talks, representatives from Kinshasa and M23 claimed to have made "substantial progress toward conclusion of a protocol on humanitarian access and judicial protection." However, locals remain unconvinced that Swan’s arrival will lead to any meaningful change. “Although he came, in Goma, we feel that nothing will change. Because they come, but we realise that things remain unchanged. That’s why we have no words on the subject. We find it’s the same situation,” said one local. Another resident asked Swan “to find solutions” as clashes continue in eastern DRC. Kinshasa has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel movement, an allegation Kigali denies. On March 2, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the Rwandan Defence Force and four senior commanders, accusing them of violating the Washington Accords by continuing to support M23 operations, including the capture of the eastern Congolese city of Uvira in December."
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