DRC: CEASEFIRE OR TACTICAL PAUSE?

The ceasefire declared unilaterally by the M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo has come as a surprise. The Rwandan-backed militia has been making rapid gains in eastern DRC, including the capture of the regional capital Goma. The armed group cited ‘humanitarian reasons.’

773 bodies of people killed in just one week of the offensive were reportedly in local hospital morgues as of 1 February. The morgues are said to have exceeded their capacity - with many bodies left lying in the streets.

The Congolese government says any meaningful humanitarian let-up in the fighting must include the city’s demilitarisation to enable aid access into Goma. That outcome currently looks exceedingly unlikely.

Many suspect that the proposed truce is in bad faith - and will merely give the M23 an opportunity to rearm and bring forward more fighters, ahead of a new major offensive. That possibility is apparently confirmed by videos of truckloads of rebel troops amassing.

What do you make of M23’s ceasefire declaration?

Sources:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/4/rwandan-backed-m23-rebels-declare-ceasefire-in-drc

https://news.sky.com/story/bodies-in-streets-as-morgues-exceed-capacity-after-700-killed-in-just-four-days-of-fighting-around-goma-in-congo-13300930

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFrjDDmIbaY/?igsh=QkFLVjJHdmdaOA%3D%3D

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/dr-congo-calls-for-withdrawal-of-m23-rebels-rwandan-forces-from-city-of-goma/3472143#