The Democratic Republic of Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi is not taking part in regionally brokered talks aimed at ending the rebel assault on the key eastern city of Goma, state media has reported.
The M23 rebel group has declared the key city of Goma under its control, signalling a big blow to the Congolese army.
The capture of the city has cut off the supply of goods to North Kivu, an emerging market
The latest fighting has intensified a humanitarian crisis, displacing more than 400,000 people since the start of the year, and raised fears of sparking a regional war, the U.N. has warned.
GOMA : Clashes in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s besieged city of Goma have killed at least 17 people and wounded nearly 370, hospital sources said yesterday, as the Congolese military fought to hold off M23 forces backed by the Rwandan army.
According to reports, the Romanian government and the US intervened to ensure the safe passage of the mercenaries.
An armed group backed by Rwandan troops took control of the airport in the besieged DR Congo city of Goma on Tuesday, a security source said, dealing a major blow to Congolese forces and putting the regional capital on the brink of falling .
Congolese soldiers positioned on Mount Goma, a hill within the city, exchanged artillery fire with Rwandan troops on the other side of the border, in the town of Gisenyi, according to two U.N ...
In view of the restive situation in the country, Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi vowed a vigorous and coordinated response to push back the rebels while reaffirming his commitment to a peaceful resolution.
The Rwanda-backed armed group M23 vowed Thursday to "continue the march of liberation" to the DR Congo capital Kinshasa, as its fighters made further advances in the mineral-rich east of
M23 is the latest ethnic Tutsi-led, Rwandan-backed insurgency to fight in Congo since the aftermath of the genocide 30 years ago, when extremist Hutus killed Tutsis and moderate Hutus before being toppled by Tutsi-led forces under Paul Kagame. He has been Rwanda's president ever since.