Democratic Republic of Congo: M23 rebels suspended fighting and withdrew from the frontline
Democratic Republic of Congo’s M23 rebels suspended fighting and withdrew from the frontline on Friday to allow an independent investigation into shelling that hit neighboring Rwanda, its leader said.
Rwanda accused Congo on Thursday of shelling its territory and said such “provocation” would not be tolerated, raising fears of an escalation in the conflict in eastern Congo where army troops and U.N. peacekeepers have been battling the rebels.
The United Nations has thrown its weight behind Congo’s government, saying its peacekeepers witnessed the M23 rebels firing shells into Rwanda.
“We have just asked our forces to withdraw from the Kanyaruchinya front line and cease combat so as to allow for an investigation into who was shelling Rwanda,” M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa told France’s RFI radio.