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The Red Cross said in a statement it helped escort the 1,359 disarmed members of the government forces and their families from Goma to the capital Kinshasa between April 30 and May 15th, traveling nearly 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) and across a front line.

The ICRC said it accompanied several convoys on the road, while transport by helicopter and plane was carried out by the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in Congo and the country鈥檚 armed forces.

鈥淭he operation has been a success, it has enabled those transported to Kinshasa to get back in touch with their families and, we hope, will reduce tensions in the city of Goma,鈥� Myriam Favier, head of the ICRC鈥檚 sub-delegation in Goma, said.

The was the result of an agreement reached between the Congolese government, the rebels, the U.N. mission and the ICRC, which was called upon as a neutral intermediary, the Red Cross said, adding that it made sure that all the individuals had consented to being transported in the convoys.

For security reasons, no media outlets were allowed to film or photograph the operation.

The news of the successful transfer comes amid persistent tensions in eastern Congo, where fighting between Congo鈥檚 army and M23 continues, despite both sides having last month.

has been in and out of crisis for decades. Dozens of armed groups are vying for territory in the mining region near the border with Rwanda. The conflict has created one of the world鈥檚 largest humanitarian crises with more than 7 million people displaced, including .

The M23 rebels are supported by about 4,000 troops from neighboring Rwanda, according to U.N. experts, and at times have vowed to march as far as Congo鈥檚 capital, Kinshasa, about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) to the west.

On Thursday, Congolese authorities in eastern Congo.

Last week, Congo and Rwanda submitted a draft peace proposal as part of a U.S.-led process, with the Trump administration in the resource-rich region.

鈥斺赌�-

Banchereau reported from Dakar, Senegal.