The M23 rebel group has declared a unilateral ceasefire in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), amid rising violence and a dire humanitarian crisis, The Guardian reported.
Following the capture of Goma on January 27, reports emerged of a mass prison breakout where thousands of inmates escaped, the British newspaper said, adding that hundreds of women detained there were reportedly subjected to sexual violence and killed when the women’s wing was set ablaze.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights recently warned of widespread use of sexual violence as a weapon by armed groups in the region. Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high as reinforcements from neighboring Burundi bolster Bukavu, potentially deterring further M23 advances.
Accusations persist regarding Rwanda’s alleged support for M23, a claim Kigali denies. UN peacekeepers in Goma have urged increased diplomatic efforts to prevent further bloodshed and restore stability in the conflict-torn region.
