A new ceasefire monitoring mission has begun operations in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as efforts to end years of fighting receive fresh international attention.
The monitoring operation follows a peace agreement supported by Qatar and is designed to determine whether parties involved in the conflict are respecting the ceasefire.
Eastern DR Congo has suffered years of violence involving government forces, armed groups and the M23 rebellion.
The conflict has displaced large numbers of people and created a major humanitarian crisis across the region.
The arrival of ceasefire monitors is being seen as an important test of whether diplomatic efforts can produce lasting improvements on the ground.
The mission will need to overcome a difficult security environment where mistrust between the various sides remains high.
For communities in eastern Congo, the biggest hope is that the latest peace effort will translate into safer towns, open roads and the return of displaced families.
The development could also improve regional relations, particularly between DR Congo and neighbouring Rwanda, which Kinshasa has repeatedly accused of supporting M23. Rwanda has denied supporting the rebels.
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