Key Points
- Ceasefire declared in eastern Congo. The rebel alliance claims humanitarian reasons for halting attacks.
- Goma has fallen to the rebels. The alliance made major territorial gains last week.
- Rebels deny targeting Bukavu. The group insists it has no plans to seize the city.
Declared to start on February 4, the Eastern Congo rebel alliance—which comprises the M23 group—has declared a ceasefire for humanitarian considerations. The declaration came from the coalition of armed groups known as the Congo River Alliance, which has been acquiring territory in the unstable eastern portion of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ceasefire declared: Rebels pause fighting in eastern Congo
The declaration of a ceasefire comes after the rebels took last week Goma, the biggest city in eastern Congo. The fast fall of Goma rocked the area and caused panic that Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, may become their next target. The alliance has refuted any intention of occupying Bukavu, claiming instead that their main goal is to reduce suffering and enable humanitarian relief to reach people caught in the fighting.
“We recognize the humanitarian crisis developing in the areas impacted by conflict,” the alliance stated in its statement. “This ceasefire is meant to enable that aid organizations may operate freely and assist those in need.”
According to Reuters, even with the ceasefire announcement, doubts still abound. A combination of ethnic conflicts, political unrest, and rivalry over the great mineral wealth of eastern Congo has long driven war in that country. Often short-lived, past cease-fires have seen violence returning following temporary lulls.
Uncertain future: Will the ceasefire hold?
Officially, the Congolese government has not responded to the ceasefire announcement yet. International observers caution all sides to commit to a viable peace process since the situation is still delicate.
For now, Eastern Congolese people can only hope that the ceasefire continues and that much-needed help reaches those caught in the crossfire of yet another chapter in the nation’s continuous struggle.
