Democratic Republic of Congo's President Tshisekedi launches aggressive military response against Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, while condemning global inaction as fighters seize strategic city of Goma. The escalating conflict threatens regional stability and has forced half a million people from their homes,

By Yassin Kombi and David Lewis GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) -As an East African bloc urged an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwandan-backed M23 rebels who seized the city of Goma extended their advance on Wednesday,

The Summit is a follow-up of the Extraordinary Summit of the SADC Organ Troika plus the DRC and Troop Contributing Countries to the SADC Mission in the DRC, which was held on Tuesday, chaired by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics Defence and Security Cooperation.

A conflict that has raged for decades reached a flashpoint this week when rebels backed by Rwanda marched on a key Congolese city in a bid to occupy territory and exploit minerals.

A highly anticipated peace meeting between the presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo is now in doubt, as reports from Kinshasa indicate that President Félix Tshisekedi

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.

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.

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame said he agreed with the U.S. government on the need for a ceasefire in eastern Congo but gave no indication of bowing to calls for Rwandan troops and the M23 rebels they support to withdraw from Goma.

The EAC summit chaired by Kenya's President William Ruto called for peaceful settlement of the DRC conflicts, and urged the government to directly engage M23

Rwanda, which diplomats say backs M23 fighters who seized Goma in Democratic Republic of Congo this week, called on Wednesday for a ceasefire across eastern Congo and for Congo to negotiate with the rebels while denying Rwandan troops were involved.

DR Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi insisted on Wednesday that his troops were mounting a "vigorous" military response as Rwanda-backed fighters advanced in the east of the country.The weeks-long march of the M23 armed group,