Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), said Wednesday that political dialogue is the only viable solution to the decades-long conflict in the country.
Van de Perre made the remarks at the conclusion of a three-day visit to Beni in North Kivu province, a region long affected by violence.
“War is not the answer in any country in the world. There are other avenues, including dialogue and reconciliation,” she said. “This takes time because the situation in eastern Congo is extremely complex, with deep historical roots dating back to the colonial era.”
She emphasized the human toll of the conflict. “Many people have suffered — women have suffered, children have suffered, and all of this is unjust,” Van de Perre said.
The MONUSCO deputy head stressed that lasting peace in eastern Congo can only be achieved through political means. She said the United Nations and MONUSCO support such a process, though they do not lead it.
“We are not leading this process ourselves. Rather, it is being guided by Qatar, the African Union, and the United States. We support it fully and stand ready to assist the government in finding a solution to this long-standing crisis,” she said.
Following her visit to Beni, Van de Perre is scheduled to travel to Bunia in Ituri province for a three-day mission to assess the situation in another area long affected by armed conflict and insecurity.
North Kivu and Ituri provinces have faced years of unrest, driven by a combination of armed groups, communal tensions, and weak state presence. MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission deployed in the country since 1999, continues to support local authorities in efforts to stabilize the region and facilitate dialogue between conflicting parties.
Van de Perre’s visit underscores the international community’s focus on political engagement as the only sustainable path to peace in eastern Congo, where decades of violence have displaced hundreds of thousands and disrupted social and economic life.
“Peace cannot be imposed by force; it must come from political solutions that include all stakeholders,” she said.
