Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has vowed “a vigorous and coordinated response” against a rebel alliance that has besieged swaths of the nation’s mineral-rich east and forced hundreds of local troops and foreign mercenaries to surrender.

Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has vowed to restore government authority in the east, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have seized control of the city of Goma and are reportedly advancing south to take more territory.

DR Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi said on Thursday that his troops were mounting a military response as Rwanda-backed M23 fighters advanced in the east of the country.

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi said Wednesday that the international community's failure to respond to the worsening security crisis in the country's east was "an affront", saying that Congolese troops were mounting a "vigorous" response to the advance of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi vowed on Wednesday (January 29) to mount a "vigorous, coordinated response" to reclaim territory seized by M23 rebels, who captured the eastern city of Goma earlier this week.

Their fury is focused on Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who they accuse of backing the rebels - an accusation long made by the UN. To put it bluntly, a group of UN experts maintains the Rwandan army is in "de facto control of M23 operations",

President of the Democratic Republic of Congo said on Thursday that his troopers are fighting an insurgence by the Rwandan-backed militant group M23 which recently captured swaths of land in the east.