Pakistan, Feb. 5 -- The United Nations will send its first peacekeeping team to eastern Congo to monitor a ceasefire between the government and the AFC/M23 rebel group, Qatar's foreign ministry announced on Monday.

The mission will focus on Uvira, a strategic city captured by AFC/M23 fighters in December during a swift offensive. Congolese forces regained control last month after the rebels announced their withdrawal.

This deployment signals progress in Doha-mediated direct talks between Congo and the AFC/M23 rebels, aimed at implementing the ceasefire and preventing further escalation in the volatile eastern region of the country.

Qatar confirmed that both parties agreed on detailed terms of reference for the ceasefire monitoring mech...