In a rare show of support for peace efforts, M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced they will withdraw from the strategic town of Walikale just days after seizing it, according to a statement issued by the rebel-backed Congo River Alliance on Saturday.
The group said the pullout aligns with the ceasefire declared in February and aims to de-escalate the worsening conflict in the country’s eastern region. Walikale is the westernmost point reached in M23’s sweeping offensive that has already seen the group seize the two largest cities east of DRC since January.
A senior alliance figure, speaking anonymously to Reuters, said the move is meant “to give peace a chance,” but stopped short of confirming the rebels’ next destination. The group also called for Walikale and its surroundings to be demilitarized, warning that any re-entry by government forces or allies would be viewed as a provocation.
The DRC government reacted cautiously to the announcement. Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner urged vigilance, stating: “We will wait to see if this gesture translates into a real commitment to dialogue and peace.”
The rebel decision follows a last-minute M23 withdrawal from scheduled peace talks in Angola earlier this week. The group blamed European Union sanctions targeting its leadership and senior Rwandan officials for its absence, despite a shift in the DRC government’s stance that would have marked the first direct talks since President Felix Tshisekedi agreed to engage with the group.
Walikale’s occupation placed the rebels just 400 kilometers from Kisangani — the country’s fourth-largest city and a key port on the Congo River — intensifying fears of a broader offensive that could further destabilize the region.
