Critical minerals factor into the fight.

The worsening conflict in eastern Congo has led to a surge in human rights violations including summary executions, the bombing of displacement camps, reports of gang rape and other sexual violence, the U.

The U.N. voices concern over alleged atrocities as Rwandan-backed rebels reportedly advance after seizing the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Congolese troops with support from Burundi's army appeared on Friday to be holding back a push south by Rwandan-backed rebels seeking to expand their grip on eastern Congo in a weeks-old advance that has raised fears of a broader regional conflict.

Rwanda-backed rebels claimed on Monday they captured eastern Congo’s strategic city of Goma, the hub of a region containing trillions of dollars in mineral wealth that remains largely untapped.

The only way to stop the violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo is through dialogue, Russia said Friday, warning against escalation that could lead to an inter-state conflict. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized the need for immediate peace talks among all parties involved.

Amid the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, TikTok posts are circulating videos claiming to show US soldiers arriving in the country to “rescue” an American citizen -- and son of a local coup leader -- who was sentenced to death.

Rwanda-backed rebels claimed they captured eastern Congo’s strategic city of Goma, the hub of a region containing trillions of dollars in mineral wealth that remains largely untapped, the Associated Press reported.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has this afternoon (Friday) arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe, where he will be participating in the Southern African Development Committee (SADC) Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government to discuss the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We will stay here in Congo and fight. If we do not stay alive here, let’s stay dead here,’ said Congo’s defence minister.