DRC rebels stop fighting after killing 900
- Rebels in eastern DRC have called a ceasefire after killing 900 people and forcing 400,000 to flee their homes since January.
- Rwanda denies helping the rebels but world powers criticise the fighting that has destroyed many communities.
Rebel fighters in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have said they will stop fighting after killing 900 people and forcing thousands to flee their homes.
The rebels, who many say are backed by Rwanda, have been fighting near Goma, DRC’s biggest city in the east.
They call themselves the Congo River Alliance and include the M23 group.
The United Nations says the fighting has killed at least 900 people and injured 2,880 more.
Over 400,000 people have had to flee their homes since January.
The rebels say they are stopping for “humanitarian reasons” after taking over large areas. They promise to stay where they are and not move forward.
But world powers are angry. The G7 countries and the European Union say the rebels are violating DRC’s sovereignty.
The rebels claim they had to fight because DRC’s army was using planes to bomb areas where ordinary people live.
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame says his country is not sending soldiers to help the rebels.
But he warned that Rwanda would fight back if it needed to protect itself.
The fighting has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes over the past three years.
Many are now living in camps without proper food or shelter.
Pictured above: UN peacekeepers in Congo.
Source: @UN