GOMA, Congo — The Rwanda-backed rebels who seized a major city in eastern Congo declared a unilateral ceasefire Monday, citing humanitarian grounds, but there was no sign of them giving up control of Goma at the heart of a region home to trillions of dollars in mineral wealth.

The announcement came shortly after the U.N. health agency said at least 900 people died in last week’s fighting between the M23 rebels and Congolese forces following the rebels’ seizure of Goma, a city of 2 million people.

The rebels were then reported to be advancing on another provincial capital, Bukavu, while vowing to continue to the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, a thousand miles away.

There was no immediate comment from Congo’s government. The announcement came ahead of a joint summit this week by the regional blocs of southern and eastern Africa, which have called for a ceasefire. Kenya’s President William Ruto said Monday the presidents of Congo and Rwanda would attend.

– The Associated Press