Recent clashes with M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo have led to the deaths of at least 13 peacekeepers and foreign soldiers. Amid significant territorial advancements by M23 around the city of Goma, the U.N. Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting to address the violence. Congo's military, supported by U.N. and allied forces, successfully repelled an offensive towards Goma. Accusations of Rwandan support for M23 complicate the situation, with Rwanda's government denying such claims while acknowledging its military presence in eastern Congo.
"The Rwandan-backed M23 is clearly exploiting the presidential transition in the U.S. to advance on Goma - putting thousands more civilians at risk," Kate Hixon, advocacy director for Africa at Amnesty International US.
Congo, the United States and U.N. experts accuse Rwanda of backing M23, which is mainly made up of ethnic Tutsis who broke away from the Congolese army more than a decade ago.
Rwanda's government denies the claim, but last year acknowledged that it has troops and missile systems in eastern Congo to safeguard its security.
The U.N. Security Council moved up an emergency meeting on the escalating violence to Sunday morning, after Congo requested to address the urgent situation.
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