{The M23 rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo says it is ending its insurgency, hours after the government claimed military victory.}
In a statement, the movement said it would adopt “purely political means” to achieve its goals and urged its fighters to disarm and demobilise.
The government said the last remaining rebels had either surrendered or fled across the border overnight.
At least 800,000 people have fled their homes since the conflict began in 2012.
A summit of African leaders on Monday night in the South African capital Pretoria agreed that the M23 should make “a public declaration renouncing rebellion” to allow a peace accord to be signed with the Congolese government.
Congolese Defence Minister Alexandre Luba Ntambo, after the meeting, said once the rebels had publicly abandoned their insurgency the government “would make a public declaration of acceptance of this”. Five days later, a formal peace agreement would be signed, he added.
The BBC’s Milton Nkosi in South Africa says, with its announcement on Tuesday, the M23 appears to have met the conditions of the African leaders.
M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa announced on Tuesday that “the chief of general staff and the commanders of all major units are requested to prepare troops for disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration on terms to be agreed with the government of Congo”.
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