The Eastern Congo rebel alliance that includes the M23 has declared a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons starting on February 4.

The group, known as the Congo River Alliance, made this announcement in a statement on Monday.

The group said it had no intention of capturing Bukavu, South Kivu’s provincial capital, after seizing Congo’s largest eastern city, Goma, last week.

In an official communiqué issued on February 3, M23 claimed that the ceasefire was in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the Kinshasa regime, while reiterating its commitment to protecting civilians in areas under its control.

“The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) hereby informs the public that, in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the Kinshasa regime, it declares a ceasefire starting February 4th, 2025, for humanitarian reasons,” the statement read.

The ceasefire announcement comes shortly after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed to reinforce South African National Defence Force, SANDF, troops deployed in DRC under the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC, SAMIDRC.

Ramaphosa condemned recent attacks that killed 14 South African soldiers and called for Rwanda to immediately withdraw its forces from Congolese territory, accusing Kigali of backing M23, a charge Rwanda denies.

At the same time, Western countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have piled pressure on Rwanda to cease hostilities and pull its troops from DRC.

The international community has increasingly voiced concerns over Rwanda’s alleged involvement, warning that the conflict risks spiralling into a broader regional crisis.

The UK warned Kigali that it would lose its annual $1bn global aid if Rwandan troops stayed in DRC.

Addressing widespread concerns over its territorial ambitions, M23 denied having any plans to seize Bukavu, despite recent reports of its forces advancing toward the city.

“It must be made clear that we have no intention of capturing Bukavu or other areas. However, we reiterate our commitment to protecting and defending the civilian population and our positions,” the statement added.