The rebels, which Rwanda denies supporting, have long been funded at least in part by the illicit mineral trade.

M23's last occupation of Goma was short-lived, and within a year they were a defeated force. This time, things are different.

Turkey's Erdogan Offers to Mediate Between Rwanda and DR Congo| Firstpost Africa | N18G After successfully resolving a dispute between neighbours Ethiopia and Somalia, Turkey wants to mediate between neighbours Rwanda and DR Congo who are locked in political confrontation fueled by an insurgency near their border.

The South African Defence Force confirmed four more of its troops have died, bringing the number lost in the rebel advance on Goma to 13

Rwandan backed rebels have entered the city of Goma, a key city in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. Could the mineral rich region be in danger of tipping into all out regional conflict?

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Sunday urged Rwanda to withdraw its forces from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where fierce fighting raged as Kigali-backed fighters closed in on the major city of Goma.

A lightning advance in Congo's mineral-rich eastern borderlands is set to boost the M23 rebellion's illegal mining revenues, with analysts predicting a further surge in illicit trade in minerals including coltan and gold through neighbouring Rwanda.

A lightning advance in Congo’s mineral-rich eastern borderlands is set to boost the M23 rebellion’s illegal mining revenues, with analysts predicting a further surge in illicit trade in minerals including coltan and gold through neighbouring Rwanda.

M23 rebels said they have advanced into Goma, a large city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Hundreds of thousands of residents have been displaced.

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels faced pockets of resistance from army and pro-government militia overnight after entering eastern Congo's largest city Goma in the worst escalation of a conflict that has run for more than a decade.

M23 insurgency has intensified, with the Rwanda-backed rebels seizing control of more territory than ever before, prompting the U.N. to warn of the risk of a broader war. South Africa said nine of its peacekeepers were killed in fighting.