A ceasefire announced four days ago between government forces and rebel groups in the eastern region appears to be holding, offering the first sustained pause in violence since the conflict began two years ago.
The agreement, brokered by international mediators, took effect at midnight on May 1 and has so far resulted in a significant reduction in hostilities, according to military officials on both sides.
"We have observed compliance from both parties," said Colonel Marcus Henderson, spokesperson for the government's armed forces. "Our troops remain in defensive positions and have not engaged in offensive operations since the ceasefire began."
Rebel leadership issued a similar statement, confirming their commitment to the terms of the agreement. "We are honoring the ceasefire and expect the government to do the same," said a spokesperson who requested anonymity for security reasons.
The conflict has displaced approximately 340,000 civilians and caused an estimated $4.2 billion in economic damage to the region, according to government figures. Infrastructure damage includes destroyed bridges, damaged power facilities, and disrupted agricultural production.
International observers from the Regional Peace Coalition have deployed 200 monitors to verify compliance with the ceasefire terms. The monitors are positioned at key checkpoints along the conflict zone.
"This is a positive development, but we remain cautious," said Elena Vasquez, head of the monitoring mission. "Ceasefires are fragile, and both sides must demonstrate sustained commitment to peace."
The agreement does not address underlying political disputes that sparked the conflict, including demands for regional autonomy and resource allocation. Negotiators plan to begin talks on these substantive issues within the next two weeks.
Local residents expressed cautious optimism. "We hope this peace will last," said Ahmad Khalil, a shopkeeper who fled his village six months ago. "But we have seen promises before."
The ceasefire includes provisions for humanitarian access to affected areas, allowing aid organizations to deliver food and medical supplies to isolated communities for the first time in months.