General Major Jeff Nyagah, who is part of the Kenyan contingent, was speaking as the M23 rebels handed over the strategic town of Kibumba, about 20km (12 miles) from the regional town of Goma, to the East African force.

The area lies along a major road that heads to Goma.

In a statement on Thursday, the M23 rebels said that they had decided to withdraw from the area as a goodwill gesture in line with the agreements of a regional leaders’ summit in the Angolan capital, Luanda, in November.

Gen Maj Nyagah said that while conducting operations in the restive region is complex, the regional force will continue their work with zeal and in respect of international humanitarian law.

Humanitarian agencies say fighting between the M23 rebels and the Congolese government has displaced at least half a million people since March.

A leaked UN report on Thursday said that that the Rwandan government has provided support to the M23 rebels. Rwanda has in the past denied these accusations.

The report also states that the DR Congo national forces formed an alliance with other armed groups in the resource-rich region against the M23 rebels.

It also raises concerns about the ethnic attacks on Kinyarwanda speaking communities in eastern DR Congo, who are deemed to be supporters of the M23.