The M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo on Monday, February 3, declared a unilateral ceasefire one week after they captured the strategic city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.

The rebels' spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said the ceasefire, declared for humanitarian reasons, would take effect on Tuesday, February 4.

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He said the move was "in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the Kinshasa regime."

The development followed reports of fighting on Sunday and Monday in Kavumu, about 20 kilometres from Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province.

"It must be made clear that we have no intention of capturing Bukavu or other areas,” Kanyuka said in a Monday statement.

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"We condemn the [Congolese army’s] continued use of military aircraft at Kavumu Airport, where they load bombs that kill our compatriots in liberated areas.”

He added that the rebels were committed to "protecting and defending the civilian population and our positions.”

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The M23 rebel group, which is part of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), tool control of Goma on January 27.

The rebel group has been fighting the Congolese army for more than three years. The government coalition includes forces from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), European mercenaries, Burundian forces and armed groups such as the genocidal FDLR and Wazalendo.

The fall of Goma was followed by the surrender of the mercenaries, hundreds of whom flew back to Europe through Rwanda on Saturday.

Kanyuka asked the SADC mission (SAMIDRC) to "withdraw its forces from [DR Congo], as we have repeatedly stated that their mission is no longer justified.”

Leaders of the SADC and East African Community (EAC) countries are expected to meet this week in Dar-es Salam, Tanzania, to deliberate on joint efforts to address the DR Congo crisis. The two blocs held respective summits last week, and called for a cessation of hostilities.