Congo M23 rebels hand back army base amid suspected ceasefire breaches elsewhere

FILE PHOTO: Major General Jeff Nyagah of the Kenya Defence Forces, part of the troops to the East Africa Community Regional Force (EACRF) soldiers address the media during the withdrawal by the Congolese M23 rebels from 3 antennes location in Kibumba, near Goma, North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, December 23, 2022. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi/File Photo

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Congo's M23 rebel group on Friday began a phased withdrawal from an occupied army and U.N. base in eastern North Kivu province, part of a ceasefire brokered by regional leaders that analysts suspect is being breached in other parts of the country.

A ceremonial handover to East African Community (EAC) forces marked the start of the M23's departure from the strategic military town of Rumangabo, 40 km north of the regional capital Goma, which the rebels seized at the end of October.