Rwanda has embraced the M23 rebel group’s decision to pull back from Walikale, a mineral-rich town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), signaling cautious optimism for peace in a region battered by decades of conflict.

The announcement, made Sunday by Rwanda’s government spokesperson, follows the Congo River Alliance—a coalition including M23—declaring on Saturday its intent to “reposition” forces from Walikale to bolster ongoing peace efforts, a move echoed by the DRC’s pledge to halt offensive operations.

“Rwanda welcomes M23’s repositioning and the DRC’s de-escalation,” the statement read, pledging support for initiatives like the joint EAC-SADC summit process aimed at a lasting resolution.

The rebels’ retreat, announced days after seizing Walikale on March 19 despite a ceasefire call from DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame in Qatar, marks their farthest westward push since intensifying their campaign last year, capturing Goma and Bukavu.

The DRC, UN, and Western nations accuse Rwanda of arming M23—a charge Kigali denies—while Rwanda claims DRC collaborates with Hutu militias tied to the 1994 genocide. Walikale’s fall had rattled the region, disrupting tin exports and displacing thousands. Though skepticism lingers among Congolese forces, with some questioning M23’s sincerity, Foreign Minister Therese Wagner voiced hope that dialogue might now take root.

As both sides step back, the fragile de-escalation offers a rare glimmer of hope amid eastern Congo’s relentless turmoil.