Rebels declare ceasefire in eastern Congo

However, it remains unclear whether the Congolese military will also respect the ceasefire.

— Umukasi 🇷🇼🇨🇩🇨🇦 (@Umukasi_Kivu) #Congo 🇨🇩 #AFC_M23🇨🇩COMMUNIQUÉ OFFICIEL DU 3 FÉVRIER 2025——————————————-L'Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) informe le public qu'en réponse à la crise humanitaire provoquée par le régime de Kinshasa, elle décrète un cessez-le-feu qui prend effet à partir du 4 février 2025 pour… pic.twitter.com/sc7vzVvixYFebruary 3, 2025

The rebels, who according to experts are supported by neighbouring Rwanda, have been active in eastern Congo for years and have now gained control over large parts of North Kivu. 

In its statement, the M23 rebel group condemned the military for using the airport near the city of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in the east of the country, as a base for air strikes "that kill our compatriots in the liberated areas."  

"It is important to clarify that we have no intention of taking control of Bukavu or other areas," the statement said. 

However, experts have raised concerns over a potential M23 advance toward Kavumu Airport and the capture of Bukavu, which lies some 100 kilometres south of Goma.  

At least 900 bodies have been recovered from the streets of Goma following the latest fighting there, the United Nations said on Monday. 

Authorities say numerous dead bodies are still lying in the streets of Goma, after a rebel attack. (AP PHOTO)

The figure was calculated up to and including Friday and does not include those who have already been taken to morgues, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said, citing the World Health Organisation.

Numerous dead bodies are still lying in the streets of Goma, it was reported. Local authorities in the east of the DRC also counted almost 2,900 injured last week, according to the reports. 

A little over a week ago, the M23 militia attacked Goma and ultimately took it after days of fighting against the military.  

Some of the world's rarest and most valuable metals are mined in large quantities in resource-rich North Kivu, including coltan, gold, nickel, cobalt and copper.