During the night of May 4 to 5, 2026, MONUSCO peacekeepers intervened following a new escalation of security tensions reported in Djugu Territory, in Ituri. According to information gathered by the Mission and the Congolese army, elements of the armed group CRP had reportedly gathered in the locality of Bassa, located about 30 kilometers from the MONUSCO base in Gina, raising fears of a possible attack on the FARDC headquarters in Pimbo. Located…

UNITY - For the nearly 300,000 people who call the vast floodplains of Bentiu home, the difference between safety and displacement is no more than an earthen dyke. In recent years, climate shocks across South Sudan have turned seasonal flooding into a clear and present danger to lives and properties. Entire communities have lost their homes to water; in Bentiu they live in the largest camp for internally displaced persons. Their protection: mud…

On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, MONUSCO donated five fire extinguishers and seventeen bags of cement to Bunia Central Prison as part of support aimed at strengthening the facility’s security and improving detention conditions, particularly in the women’s section. This assistance, provided by MONUSCO’s Northern Sector contingents in collaboration with the Mission’s Prison Administration Support Unit, comes in a context of prison overcrowding. To date…

A group of about ten students from the National School of Diplomacy, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution of the University of Martyrs of Congo (UNIM-RDC) visited MONUSCO premises in Goma (North Kivu) on May 5 and 6, where they held discussions with civilian and military staff. These exchanges helped them better understand the Mission’s mandate, its operations, organization, priorities, and the challenges it faces. The Head of Office in Goma, Gani…

Juba, South Sudan, 5 May 2026 - UNMAS South Sudan Programme has launched a six-month emergency mine action intervention in Jonglei State, with support from the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund, to address the threat of explosive ordnance (EO) contamination. Recent conflict has resulted in new EO contamination, civilian casualties from EO-related accidents, and constraints on humanitarian access. Displacement has further increased risks, exposing…

For a visitor peering across the Nicosia wall, the buffer zone often looks like an empty “no-man’s land”. But for the men and women of the United Nations Police (UNPOL), this is not an empty space. It is a living, breathing community. Since joining UNFICYP, UNPOL officers have taken on a role that goes far beyond traditional law enforcement. While their mandate includes monitoring ceasefire lines, their daily reality is far more nuanced: managing…

Ramallah / Gaza Strip, 28 April 2026: The Government of Japan has contributed approximately USD 5 million to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to enable activities across Gaza and the West Bank focused on managing and reducing the threat of explosive ordnance in conflict-affected communities of Gaza, conducting explosive ordnance risk education for communities as well as capacity building for the Palestinian Authority personnel. Two…

RUWENG ADMINISTRATIVE AREA - For most children between the ages of 15 and 17, school is a place of learning and hope for a better future. But that future was abruptly interrupted for some 21 boys, mostly from Jonglei, the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, Aweil and Warrap, when they were recruited into armed conflict. In February this year, reports emerged alleging forced recruitment of youth, including potential minors, for possible military…

On 30 April 2026, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution renewing the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for one year, extending its operations until 30 April 2027. The decision comes at a critical moment for South Sudan. With tensions rising, the risk of a return to large-scale conflict is real, with potentially devastating consequences for both the country and the wider region. Nearly 10 million…

April was marked by the inauguration of MONUSCO Head James Swan, who held important meetings both in Kinshasa and during his tour of the eastern part of the country. In addition, the Mission’s efforts were highlighted in the context of civilian protection, particularly in Ituri, where hostages were freed thanks to a joint operation by peacekeepers and Congolese military forces in Djugu. During the Special Representative’s visit to Goma, women…