M23 rebels withdraw from strategic DRC town ahead of landmark Doha peace talks

The M23 rebel group has withdrawn from the strategic town of Walikale in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a move they describe as a goodwill gesture ahead of planned peace talks with the Congolese government in Doha on April 9.

Since January, M23 has captured major cities in eastern DRC, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of residents. The group’s rapid advance has raised concerns…