The city of 2 million people is at the heart of a region home to trillions of dollars in mineral wealth and remains in rebel control.

United Nations agencies called for an end to the violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as fighting between

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in Congo declared a unilateral ceasefire after intense fighting resulted in 900 deaths. The conflict displaced thousands and has deep historical roots tied to ethnic tensions.

The M23 rebel group has declared a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Eastern DRC. This is according to a statement issued by the group's spokesperson. READ: DR Congo, Rwanda leaders to join summit on crisis in war-torn east The rebel group has called for the SADC peacekeeping mission,

The group called the Congo River Alliance also includes the Rwanda- backed M23 rebels, who were reported to be gaining territory in other eastern parts of the country while advancing on South Kivu's provincial capital,