Rwanda-backed rebels in DRC declare unilateral ceasefire for humanitarian aid access

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo have declared a unilateral ceasefire starting Tuesday. This decision follows humanitarian calls for aid access amid ongoing violence that has resulted in at least 900 deaths in Goma. The ceasefire announcement comes as the rebels gain ground in eastern Congo, although they stated they do not plan to capture the provincial capital Bukavu. The M23 rebels, supported by around 4,000 Rwandan troops, are the most powerful group in the region. The fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands, with many fleeing to Rwanda. The situation is linked to a long-standing ethnic conflict, with M23 claiming to protect ethnic Tutsis in Congo.