United Nations agencies called for an end to the violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as fighting between

Rwanda-backed rebels who have captured eastern Congo’s largest city say they plan to take their rebellion to the capital and seek to gain political power.

The M23 group, which the United Nations and several nations allege is backed by Rwanda, has made significant territorial gains and vowed to march on the Congolese capital, Kinshasa

Congolese troops have fought back against Rwanda-backed rebels who the U.N. says are moving fast into the South Kivu province after seizing the region’s largest city and an international airport

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

Rwanda-backed rebels captured large parts of eastern Congo's largest city including its airport, the United Nations said, as Rwanda's president joined calls for a ceasefire.

Congo’s leader has called on young people to enlist in the army to help fight Rwanda-backed rebels attempting to seize more territory in the country’s conflict-battered east

The United Nations expressed deep concern at reports of M23 rebels and Rwandan troops advancing south towards the Congolese city of Bukavu on Thursday, as the militants sought also to assert their control over east Congo's largest city Goma.

At an M23 news conference in Goma on Thursday, Nangaa said the rebels aim to set up a new administration in the city of 2 million people that's now home to hundreds of thousands of displaced Congolese. The rebels spoke to reporters of their plans to return displaced people to their homes, presenting a major challenge to Tshisekedi.