The M23 rebels unilaterally proclaim a cease-fire

The M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo announced a unilateral ceasefire on Monday, February 3, one week after seizing the capital of North Kivu province and the strategically important city of Goma.

According to rebel spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, the humanitarian ceasefire will go into force on Tuesday, February 4.

The action was taken, he claimed, “in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the Kinshasa regime.”

According to accounts, violence broke out in Kavumu, which is around 20 kilometers from Bukavu, the South Kivu Province seat, on Sunday and Monday.

Kanyuka stated in a statement on Monday that “it must be made clear that we have no intention of capturing Bukavu or other areas.”

The ongoing use of military aircraft by the [Congolese army] at Kavumu Airport, where they drop bombs that murder our countrymen in freed regions, is something we deplore.

He went on to say that the rebels were dedicated to “defending and protecting our positions and the civilian population.”

Goma was taken over by the M23 rebel group, a member of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), on January 27.

The Congolese army and the rebel organization have been engaged in combat for almost three years. In addition to Burundian soldiers, European mercenaries, and armed organizations like Wazalendo and the murderous FDLR, the government alliance also includes forces from the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Hundreds of mercenaries traveled back to Europe via Rwanda on Saturday after the mercenaries surrendered after Goma fell.

We have frequently said that the SADC mission (SAMIDRC) is no longer warranted, hence Kanyuka requested that they “withdraw its forces from [DR Congo].”

The East African Community (EAC) and SADC leaders are scheduled to convene this week in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to discuss coordinated measures to resolve the DR Congo conflict. Both blocs demanded a halt to hostilities during their respective conferences last week.