Rwanda-backed forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have announced a temporary ceasefire, citing humanitarian concerns.
The M23 rebel coalition declared a unilateral halt to hostilities starting Tuesday, February 4, following weeks of intense fighting that has devastated the eastern part of the country.
The group, supported by thousands of Rwandan troops, recently seized Goma, a key city in eastern DRC.
According to the United Nations, at least 900 people have been killed, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict. Calls have been mounting for a humanitarian corridor to be established, allowing civilians to escape the violence.
However, the DRC government in Kinshasa has yet to comment on the rebels’ ceasefire announcement, raising uncertainty over whether the national military will honor the truce.
“The Alliance Fleuve Congo [AFC/M23] informs the public that in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the regime in Kinshasa, it declares a ceasefire starting February 4, 2025 for humanitarian reasons.”
DRC Government
After taking control of Goma, a city of two million people rich in mineral resources, the rebels had begun advancing toward Bukavu, another major hub in eastern DRC. Previously, the group had declared its intent to march across the country to seize the capital. However, in the latest statement, M23 leaders asserted they would not proceed with their attack on Bukavu.
“It must be made clear that we have no intention of capturing Bukavu or other areas. However, we reiterate our commitment to protecting and defending the civilian population and our positions.”
M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka
The United Nations reported on Monday that at least 900 bodies had been recovered from the streets of Goma. However, officials warn that the actual death toll is likely much higher, as this figure does not include bodies taken to the morgue or those still unaccounted for. Local authorities also documented nearly 2,900 injuries over the past week.
Ceasefire Ahead Of Regional Summit
The announcement of the ceasefire comes ahead of a regional summit scheduled for the weekend, where the presidents of DRC and Rwanda are expected to meet. DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame have previously failed to engage in peace negotiations.
However, Kenya, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the East African Community (EAC), has indicated that both leaders may participate in the upcoming talks.
Meanwhile, foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) have urged all parties involved in the conflict to return to negotiations. They have also called for the “rapid, safe, and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians.”
The ongoing conflict in the DRC is deeply rooted in decades of ethnic tensions. M23 claims to be defending ethnic Tutsis who fled to the DRC during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. However, the DRC government accuses Rwanda and its rebel allies of exploiting the nation’s vast mineral resources, including rare earth deposits.
At a crisis summit in Harare last week, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) reaffirmed its support for DRC’s sovereignty. However, leaders acknowledged that the escalating violence is straining diplomatic relations across the region.
Days after the EAC met to address the worsening situation, SADC leaders convened an emergency summit near Harare, Zimbabwe, to discuss the implications of the conflict. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who currently chairs SADC, underscored the urgency of the situation in his opening remarks.
“Escalating hostilities in eastern Congo have created a dire situation. We meet here to seek a lasting solution to end the challenges facing the DRC people.
“People in eastern Congo have suffered for far too long. While we pause to mourn our loss, our resolve to ensure collective security cannot be shaken.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa
Mnangagwa reaffirmed SADC’s commitment to restoring peace in the mineral-rich region, stressing that the conflict’s effects extend far beyond the DRC’s borders.
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