Goma, DRC – The M23 rebel group has unilaterally announced a “humanitarian ceasefire” in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, effective from Tuesday, ahead of an upcoming summit between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame this weekend in Tanzania.

Last week, M23 and Rwandan forces captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. While fighting has subsided in Goma, clashes have continued in the neighboring South Kivu province, sparking fears that M23 may advance towards the provincial capital, Bukavu.

In a statement issued on Monday evening, the M23 declared a ceasefire “for humanitarian reasons” and emphasized that they had “no intention of taking control of Bukavu or other areas.” However, just last week, the group had expressed its goal to continue their march towards the Congolese capital, Kinshasa.

This conflict, which has persisted for over three years, has seen multiple ceasefires and truces declared, only to be repeatedly violated.

Kenya’s presidency announced on Monday that Presidents Tshisekedi and Kagame would meet in Dar es Salaam on Saturday for an extraordinary summit of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The 16 members of the SADC had requested a joint summit with the 8 members of the EAC, of which Rwanda is a part.

Since taking control of Goma, the M23 and its Rwandan allies have continued advancing through South Kivu. While Bukavu remains calm for now, local sources have reported that M23 forces are reportedly reorganizing and receiving reinforcements and arms, likely preparing to intensify their offensive.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated his country’s support for the people of the DRC, amid criticism regarding South Africa’s involvement in the SADC mission deployed in North Kivu since 2023. Recently, 14 South African soldiers were killed in the conflict. The fighting has claimed at least 900 lives, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

“The mission will end based on the implementation of various confidence-building measures and when the ceasefire we have called for is established,” Ramaphosa said.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has called for the withdrawal of the SADC mission, arguing that it is not a peacekeeping force and does not belong in the current situation. Rwanda’s government spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, strongly criticized Ramaphosa’s comments, accusing South Africa of having economic interests in DRC’s resources, particularly in the mining sector, and of undermining peace efforts.

Eastern DRC is rich in natural resources such as tantalum, tin, and gold, which are used in electronics and batteries. Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of seeking to exploit these resources, while Rwanda claims its goal is to eliminate armed groups, including those led by former perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, who are a security threat to Rwanda.

In Kinshasa, calls for protests against the conflict in the east and to pressure the international community have been growing, though authorities have banned all demonstrations to prevent potential unrest.

On Monday, the United States announced a further reduction of its embassy staff in Kinshasa. This follows last week’s decision to withdraw non-essential personnel after attacks on embassies in the Congolese capital, with accusations that international bodies have failed to take meaningful action against M23 and Rwanda’s military actions in eastern DRC.