The Eastern Congo rebel alliance that includes the M23 has declared a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons starting on February 4.
The group, known as the Congo River Alliance, made this announcement in a statement on Monday.
The group said it had no intention of capturing Bukavu, South Kivuâs provincial capital, after seizing Congoâs largest eastern city, Goma, last week.
In an official communiqué issued on February 3, M23 claimed that the ceasefire was in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the Kinshasa regime, while reiterating its commitment to protecting civilians in areas under its control.
The ceasefire announcement comes shortly after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed to reinforce South African National Defence Force, SANDF, troops deployed in DRC under the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC, SAMIDRC.
