Rwanda-backed M23 Rebels Capture Goma, DR Congo Calls "Declaration of War" | Firstpost Africa | N18G Africa's two mineral-rich neighbours- the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are locked in a fierce conflict,

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have broken off diplomatic ties after an escalation in fighting in eastern Congo near the border with its neighbour. Relations between the two countries are steeped in history but also mired in more than 30 years of

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Uganda could also witness an unusual re-formation of an African state on its border. If the DRC were to be deprived of all its eastern provinces, it would lose two of the lakes it currently shares with Uganda (Lake Albert and Lake Edward), and the biggest prize of them all, Lake Kivu, which it shares with Rwanda.

Congolese security forces on Tuesday tried to slow the advance of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels who say they have captured Goma after entering eastern Congo’s largest city, as

THE United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Sunday over deadly clashes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after Kinshasa withdrew its diplomats from Kigali as Rwanda-backed rebels advanced on the key city of Goma.