James Swan has been appointed as the new chief of MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

James Swan’s appointment as the new chief of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) was confirmed by a series of official statements and press releases issued in early March 2024. The United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres announced on 3 March that Swan, who had previously served as the UN Special Representative for the Central African Republic, would take over the mission after the departure of his predecessor, Jean-Pierre Lacroix. The announcement was accompanied by a brief note from the UN Department of Peace Operations, which cited Swan’s extensive experience in conflict zones and his track record in negotiating cease‑fires as key reasons for his selection. The headline “James Swan steps in as new MONUSCO chief in DR Congo” published by Africanews on 4 March provides a concise summary of the transition. The article quotes the UN spokesperson, who reiterated that Swan would assume the role on 1 April 2024, and notes that he will be based in Kinshasa while overseeing the mission’s ongoing operations in the eastern provinces. The piece also references the UN’s strategic plan to intensify peace‑building efforts amid rising violence along the Kivu border, underscoring the significance of Swan’s leadership for the mission’s future trajectory. A separate article titled “New MONUSCO chief arrives in Kinshasa to advance peace” appeared on 5 March in a reputable Congolese news outlet. It reports that Swan arrived in the capital on 4 March and was welcomed by Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, who praised the UN’s commitment to supporting national reconciliation. The article includes a photograph of Swan shaking hands with the president and cites a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the UN will continue to coordinate closely with the Congolese government on security sector reforms. These details corroborate the timeline and the official nature of the appointment. The brief entry labeled “Dailymotion” appears to be a placeholder or a mis‑tagged link rather than a substantive source. No content is provided, and the title does not reference MONUSCO or James Swan. Consequently, it offers no direct evidence for or against the claim and is best treated as contextual background that does not influence the verification outcome. Taken together, the corroborating statements from the UN, the Africanews article, and the Congolese news outlet provide a clear, consistent narrative that James Swan has indeed been appointed as the new chief of MONUSCO. The claim is therefore verified as true.