The leader of Democratic Republic of Congo's M23 rebels on Sunday called for a cease-fire as army troops waged an offensive against the fighters in the country's troubled east. The call came with the rebels on the back foot as DR Congo troops pounded hilltop positions where die-hard fighters have holed up after being forced from their last stronghold this week.
"We order all the forces of the Congolese revolutionary army to immediately end hostilities with the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo," M23 president Bertrand Bisimwa said in a statement.
He said his aim was to "allow the continuation of the political process" with Kinshasa in a bid to end the insurgency rocking the long-troubled region since April 2012. Bisimwa urged rebel chiefs to "ensure the strict observance of this order by elements under their command."
His order came in the midst of fierce fighting in the mountainous region bordering Uganda, where the army on Sunday launched a fresh offensive against some 200 rebels who fled to the hills after their base in the town of Bunagana was seized on Wednesday.
"Fighting is continuing," M23 spokesman Vianney Kazarama said shortly before the order to lay down arms. "In any case it will be hard to pull us out of here. We are busy bombing (troops) who are making their way up the valleys." By 1415 GMT the fighting appeared to have intensified, according to AFP journalists in Ntamugenga, located close to the conflict zone.
"We are pounding Mbuzi," one of three mountains in eastern DR Congo where the rebels are hiding, General Lucien Bahuma told AFP by telephone earlier Sunday. "After the artillery we will send in the troops."
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