The Latest Breaking News from Felix Tshisekedi

A dramatic escalation of the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and swingeing US humanitarian aid cuts are set to dominate an African Union summit this week, overshadowing the election of its new chairman.

Analysts say the deadly march by Rwanda-backed rebels across eastern Congo could widen into a regional conflict drawing in even more countries, and the two nations most involved in the mineral-rich area might be the key to stopping the violence

In late January, a rebel group that has long caused mayhem in the sprawling African nation of Democratic Republic of Congo took control of Goma, a major city of about 2 million people on the border with Rwanda in the country’s east.

The M23 and Rwandan forces on Wednesday launched a new offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, seizing a mining town in South Kivu province, as they resumed their advance towards the regional capital Bukavu.

The armed group M23 has declared a humanitarian "ceasefire" starting this Tuesday in the volatile eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, while a crisis meeting between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame is also being arranged for Friday.

DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame will attend a summit on Saturday as a Rwanda-backed armed group advances in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels are seizing control of areas within the DRC. This will only escalate unless western governments act, says researcher and writer Dino Mahtani

The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group 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 the country.

Kenya has announced a virtual crisis summit, but Congolese state media says President Felix Tshisekedi will not attend.