M23 Movement rebel group announced a “unilateral ceasefire” after days of fighting against the Congolese army in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The ceasefire aims to “allow the country’s authorities to start a dialogue for a peaceful resolution” to the decade-long crisis, the rebel group said in a statement.
The statement came after the movement began to withdraw on Thursday from the areas it had occupied in the North Kivu province during the combat against the Congolese army that began on Monday.
The clashes have forced some 46,000 people of out their homes since Monday including 10,000 who fled to Uganda as refugees, the United Nations refugee agency estimated on Friday.
A UN helicopter was downed on Tuesday, killing eight foreign blue helmets onboard. The warring parties blamed the incident on each other.
The attacks broke out after the army carried out operations against M23 bases in Ruthsuru last week.
During these combats, the M23 came to occupy up to five towns, civil society leaders confirmed.
