DR Congo says Rwanda army in Goma
Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya said Kinshasa wanted to prevent "carnage," with Rwanda's forces in the east of the country. It comes after the M23 group claimed to have taken the city of Goma.
Congo's government on Monday accused Rwanda of an incursion into the North Kivu province in the east of the country, hours after the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels claimed control over the provincial capital Goma.
"The government continues to work to prevent carnage and loss of life in light of Rwanda's clear intentions," government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya said in a post on the platform X.
He spoke of the "presence of the Rwandan army" in Goma.
Muyaya said Kinshasa urged residents of the eastern city to stay at home and to refrain from committing acts of vandalism and looting.
The Reuters news agency cited UN sources as saying that Congolese forces exchanged artillery fire with Rwandan troops across the border between the two Central African countries.
M23 claims to take Goma
The Congolese government statement comes hours after M23 rebels said they had taken control of Goma.
On Sunday, the UN Security Council ordered the group to halt its offensive in eastern Congo and "condemned the ongoing flagrant disregard for [Congo's] sovereignty and territorial integrity," while calling on "external forces" to withdraw.
Congo, the US and UN experts accuse Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group.
Kigali denies supporting the militia, but has acknowledged it has stationed troops and missile systems in eastern Congo.
Eastern Congo is rich in minerals and natural resources and has been contested by scores of different armed groups.
On Saturday, international peacekeepers from South Africa, Malawi and Uruguay were killed in clashes with M23 fighters.
DW
