A two-week ceasefire between government forces and rebels from March 23 (M23) came into effect on Friday in the North Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Congolese news portal Actualite reported.
The truce is reportedly humanitarian in nature and is intended to facilitate access to aid for the local population in need, as well as facilitate the return of refugees to their homes, the electronic publication notes. There are currently 3 million refugees and displaced persons in the province.
The United States participated in reaching the ceasefire agreement, the presidency noted.
Over the past two weeks, rebel forces have advanced in the north of the province and were able to capture three major cities: Kanyabayonga, Kaiga and Kirumba, reports said. Their goal, according to the Congolese radio station Okapi, was to reach the vicinity of the strategically important city of Butembo. However, this week, government forces managed to stop the advance of the rebels 110 km south of Butembo. The most intense fighting took place near the city of Kasege, which is under the control of the Congolese army.
The M23 group first rebelled against the government in 2012. However, they disbanded in 2013 following their defeat by the UN-backed Congolese army. The movement resumed attacks in the DRC in 2021 after accusing the country’s authorities of failing to live up to their commitment to integrate Tutsis in the government and the army.