Overview

• The M23 rebel group, supported by Rwandan troops, has captured the key Congolese city of Goma, with nearly 3,000 deaths reported in one of the bloodiest weeks of the conflict.
• Rwanda denies involvement despite reports of thousands of its soldiers operating in the DRC and significant casualties, including mass graves and secret burials of Rwandan troops.
• UN experts and satellite imagery suggest Rwanda has 'de facto control' over the M23 rebels, with the group now advancing toward South Kivu province and the city of Bukavu.
• The conflict has disrupted humanitarian efforts, including critical public health labs in Goma, and exacerbated displacement, with over six million people already displaced in the region.
• Regional leaders, including the presidents of Rwanda and the DRC, are set to meet in Tanzania for crisis talks, as international pressure mounts for a ceasefire and peace negotiations.