DR Congo rebels declare humanitarian ceasefire, as UN says over 900 killed, 2,880 injured

The Alliance of Rebel Groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has declared a humanitarian ceasefire starting Tuesday, following weeks of intense fighting that has left hundreds dead and thousands displaced.

The coalition, which includes the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, said in a statement that the ceasefire was for “humanitarian reasons” after capturing key territory in eastern DR Congo.

However, it vowed to hold its positions despite earlier signaling intentions to advance further.

The UN estimates that at least 900 people have been killed and 2,880 wounded in recent clashes in and around Goma, the largest city in eastern DR Congo, which fell to the rebels last week, the BBC reports.

The ongoing violence has displaced over 400,000 people since the start of 2025, according to the UN refugee agency.

The G7 nations and the European Union have condemned the rebel offensive as a blatant violation of DR Congo’s sovereignty.

Meanwhile, the Congo River Alliance has accused the Congolese military of indiscriminate bombing using aircraft, further escalating tensions.

“We reiterate our commitment to protecting and defending the civilian population and our positions,” the alliance said in a statement.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame, whose government has been accused of backing the rebels, denied knowledge of any Rwandan troop presence in DR Congo but defended his country’s right to act in self-defense.

“There are many things I don’t know. But if you want to ask me, is there a problem in Congo that concerns Rwanda? And that Rwanda would do anything to protect itself? I’d say 100 percent,”’Kagame told CNN on Monday.

Amid growing calls for action, human rights groups have urged stronger international pressure on Rwanda. DR Congo’s communications minister, Patrick Muyaya, has called for immediate sanctions.

“A strong decision must be taken not only to condemn, but to stop what Rwanda is doing, because it is not acceptable if you want to preserve peace in Africa and in our region,” Muyaya told Reuters. “Sanctions are the minimum,” he added.

Both Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Kagame are expected to attend a regional peace summit in Tanzania on Friday.

With three decades of conflict history, negotiations—if they proceed without collapse as they have multiple times in the past year—are expected to take months.

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