The March 23 Movement (M23), supported by the Rwandan government, has decided to implement a unilateral ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) starting this Tuesday.

This announcement comes as negotiations are scheduled for this weekend, aimed at finding a solution to the ongoing crisis in the region. Last week, M23, along with Rwandan troops, took control of Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu.

While fighting has ceased in Goma, a city with over one million inhabitants, violence has continued in neighboring South Kivu, where recent clashes have been reported. In a statement released on Monday night, M23 declared that the ceasefire is established “for humanitarian reasons.”

Despite this declaration, the group indicated that it does not intend to capture Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, although its leaders had previously expressed a desire to continue their advance toward Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC.

Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame are set to participate in an extraordinary summit on Saturday in Tanzania. During this meeting, both leaders are expected to seek an agreement to mitigate tensions that have led to clashes in the region.

The Kinshasa government has raised serious accusations against Rwanda, alleging that it seeks to plunder resources by supporting rebel groups in the area. In response, Rwanda has denied these allegations, arguing that its interest lies in eradicating armed groups that threaten security, particularly those originating from the 1994 Tutsi genocide.

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