The rebel alliance that includes the M23 group declared a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons in the Democratic Republic of Congo (RD Congo), which will start on Tuesday (4), said the group known as the Congo River alliance in a statement.
The combatants pointed out that they had no intention of capturing Bukavu, provincial capital of Kivu do Sul, after taking the largest city in East of RD Congo, Gum, last week.
Understand the conflict in RD Congo
A rebellious alliance claimed the capture of the largest city in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (RD Congo), which is rich in minerals this week, surpassing government troops supported by regional and UN intervention forces.
Gum is another territorial gain for the rebel coalition Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), which includes the armed group M23 – which is sanctioned by the United States and the UN.
It is also a rapid expansion of the presence of insurgents in the east of the country – where rare minerals crucial for the production of phones and computers are extracted – and will probably make a longtime humanitarian crisis worse in the region.
The Congolese government has not yet confirmed the town of the rebels, but recognizes its presence at the site, which is the capital of the eastern province of Kivu do Norte.
In addition, RD Congo announced on Sunday (27) that it cut diplomatic relations with Rwanda and called back its diplomatic team from the country. The neighboring nation is accused of equipping the rebels with weapons and combatants.
A spokesman for the Rwanda government did not denied or confirm the support of the country to the armed group M23 when questioned by CNN.
Meanwhile, foreign peacekeepers of peacekeepers, as well as the military governor of the province of Kivu do Norte, have been killed in recent days trying to push the insurgents away, while thousands of residents flee from the region.
What is the M23?
The name M23 refers to the March 23, 2009 agreement, which ended an earlier revolt led by Tutsis in eastern RD Congo.
It is the latest group of rebels led by ethnic Tutsis supported by Rwanda, which have caused a riot in RD Congo since the aftermath of Genocide in Rwanda thirty years ago, when extremists Hutus killed Tutsis and Hutus moderate and then were overthrown by the forces led by Tutsis who still dominate Rwanda.
The M23 accuses the RD government Congo not to comply with the peace agreement and fully integrate the Congolese Tutsis with the Army and the Government.
The group also promises to defend the Tutsis interests, particularly against Hutus ethnic militias, such as Democratic Forces for Rwanda’s liberation (FDLR), founded by Hutus who fled Rwanda after participating in the 1994 genocide of almost 1 million Tutsis and Moderate Hutus and Hutus .
*With information from Reuters
This content was originally published in a rebel alliance at RD Congo declares ceasefire starting on Tuesday (4) on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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