The Congolese military has urged its troops to observe a ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, aiming to de-escalate tensions and prioritize peace talks.
The call came a day after the Alliance Fleuve Congo, a rebel coalition that includes the M23 group, withdrew from the strategic mining town of Walikale in North Kivu province.
This move follows a ceasefire agreement brokered on March 18 in Doha by Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, mediated by Qatar’s emir.
In a statement, the Congolese army acknowledged the rebels’ compliance and extended the ceasefire appeal to local self-defense forces.
The military emphasized that this pause in hostilities would support ongoing peace efforts under the Luanda and Nairobi dialogue processes, as well as the newly initiated discussions in Doha.
Despite the call for restraint, the army warned that it retains the right to respond to any hostile actions that could jeopardize national security and territorial integrity.
The M23 insurgency has intensified its campaign since December, seizing key areas, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu.
The violence has triggered a humanitarian crisis, with the UN reporting that over 100,000 Congolese have fled to neighboring countries in the past three months.
The Congolese government, along with international observers, accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, an allegation Kigali denies.
Congolese military calls for truce amid peace talks
The region remains on edge as diplomatic efforts continue to seek a lasting resolution to the conflict.
