M23 rebels claim they have taken control of the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The UN has condemned 'flagrant disregard' for the DRC's sovereignty. DW has more.

The M23 rebels announced the capture of Goma in a statement minutes before a 48-hour deadline imposed by the group for the Congolese army to surrender their weapons expired.

Congolese authorities have blocked access to the airport in Goma, a provincial capital in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and cancelled flights as Rwandan-backed rebels advance on the city, three officials told Reuters on Sunday.

Civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are at increasing risk as the abusive M23 armed group, supported by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), approaches Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.

The Democratic Republic of Congo withdrew its diplomats from Kigali as the Rwanda-backed M23 fighters advanced on the key city of Goma in the east of the country.

The advance of the rebels has been significant, managing to conquer the towns of Mumbambiro and Sake, located just 30 km from the city of Goma, capital of North Kivu. In recent days, fighting has focused on strategic arteries such as Sake-Kirotshe ...

said Rwanda was probably not willing to risk a stronger international backlash and more aid cuts if the M23 tried to take Goma again and push further south into Bukavu, the capital of the adjacent ...

GOMA, Congo (AP) — Panic spread in eastern Congo’s main city on Thursday, with M23 rebels steadily inching closer to Goma and seizing a nearby town as they battle the Congolese army.

The DR Congo army and M23 on Friday clashed outside Goma as the UK, US and France urged citizens to leave the main city in DR Congo's volatile east, warning the situation could deteriorate rapidly.