National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) declare unilateral ceasefire

The situation in the North Kivu provincial capital of Goma was relatively calm on 30 October 2008 after Laurent Nkunda's National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) declared a unilateral ceasefire the previous day. Reports confirmed that the rebels had advanced to within 6 mi/10 km of Goma, but stated that Nkunda decided to call the ceasefire in order to prevent panic in the city; U.N. reports stated that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) soldiers who entered Goma while retreating from rebel advances were "out of control" and were firing their weapons aimlessly. Civilians in Goma also reported that the soldiers had killed at least nine people, injured three others and raped at least three women in the city. Widespread looting was also reported. At least 50,000 civilians fled to Goma from nearby towns over the past four days to escape the fighting. At least 250,000 civilians have been displaced since fighting resumed in late August 2008, prompting the U.N. to declare a humanitarian crisis in the country.