A coalition of rebel groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has declared a humanitarian ceasefire, starting on Tuesday, citing “humanitarian reasons”. The group, known as the Congo River Alliance, includes the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels and has been capturing territory in the region. At least 900 people have died and 2,880 injured in recent fighting around Goma, DR Congo’s largest eastern city.
The United Nations has condemned the offensive as a flagrant violation of DR Congo’s sovereignty. The EU and G7 nations also criticized Rwanda for backing the rebels. The alliance claims it does not intend to seize further territory but will hold its positions.
Regional fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands of people over the past three years, with over 400,000 forced from their homes since 2025. Rwandan President Paul Kagame denied knowing if his country’s troops were involved in the conflict. Human rights groups are calling for more pressure on Rwanda to back down, and DR Congo’s communications minister has called for international sanctions against Rwanda.
The situation is expected to be discussed at a regional peace summit in Tanzania this week, where Congolese and Rwandan presidents are set to meet.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjexnzl372wo