The Congolese army has accused the M23 rebels and Rwanda of violating a United States-initiated humanitarian ceasefire aimed at allowing humanitarian workers to access displaced persons in the conflict zones.
A two-week ceasefire, which took effect on July 5, was announced for humanitarian workers to access conflict zones, especially the North Kivu province in Eastern Congo, where millions of people are experiencing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
However, one week into the ceasefire, violence resumed in the Masisi territory near Goma, the capital of North Kivu, according to reports by the United Nations.
The Congolese army is fighting rebels who want to control the country’s resources. Although the M23 is the most active rebel group, according to UN reports, it enjoys the support of Rwanda, Congo’s neighbour in East Africa.
The conflict, which has intensified this year, has displaced hundreds of thousands in an attempt to flee rebels.
On Thursday, the Congolese army accused the M23 and Rwanda of being responsible for the resumption of violence in the region. It said, “The Kigali regime’s failure to respect the truce […] denies them access to humanitarian aid.”
More than 7 million people are now displaced across the east of the DRC. This year alone, at least 416 violent attacks have left 1,467 civilians dead, half of whom were in North Kivu, according to the non-profit Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED).
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