East African Community holds special virtual summit, skipped by DR Congo’s president, to discuss Goma crisis - Anadolu Ajansı

DRC has been embroiled in a conflict, with the resurgence of the M23 rebel group bringing renewed attention to Rwandan President Paul Kagame and the M23 movement.

Speaking to BBC Newshour while being locked down in a UN bunker in the city, the deputy head of the UN force, Vivian van de Perre, said the M23 rebels had "established" themselves in Goma, but were still facing "pockets of resistance".

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo were moving south on Wednesday towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, in what appeared to be an attempt to expand their area of control in the country's east after capturing the city of Goma.

The president of crisis-hit Democratic Republic of Congo was set to meet his Rwandan counterpart at an emergency summit on Wednesday, as fighters backed by Kigali appeared on the brink of seizing the key city of Goma.

President Paul Kagame has debunked claims made by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and clarified points discussed during conversations between them over the situation in eastern DR Congo. Following conversations held virtually by the two Heads of State on two occasions,

President Paul Kagame has urged his counterparts from the East African Community (EAC) to pull in the same direction and avoid being manipulated in the effort to find a solution to security challenges blighting the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

By Yassin Kombi and Sonia Rolley GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) -The United States told Rwanda it was "deeply troubled" by the fall of Goma in eastern Congo to Rwandan-backed M23 rebels,

After a lightning offensive, M23 rebels now control Goma, a large city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Pope Francis on Wednesday expressed his concerns over the developments in Congo. It comes as Rwanda-backed rebels captured large parts of eastern Congo’s largest city including its airport, according to the United Nations.

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi will not attend crisis talks with Rwandan leader Paul Kagame on Wednesday, state media said, as M23 rebels backed by Rwandan troops appeared to have taken over most of the major city of Goma in the country's east.