In 2012, when M23 rebels appeared poised to seize control of a major city in eastern Congo, western countries suspended aid to put pressure on Rwanda to withdraw its support.

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

Fighting across the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and "is still very much ongoing ... it's not over yet," senior U.N. official in Congo, Bruno Lemarquis, said on Monday after Rwandan-backed M23 rebels claimed to have control of Goma.

After a lightning offensive, M23 rebels now control Goma, a large city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

When M23 rebels swept into the Congolese city of Goma this week, world powers urged them to immediately withdraw. On Thursday, power and mobile data services, which had been down for days, were back up.

The conflict comes amid rising global tensions after Donald Trump’s election, especially between Washington and Beijing, over control of strategic minerals like those present in the Congo.

In the capital, Kinshasa, protesters complaining of a lack of international action attacked foreign embassies, including those of the U.S., France and Rwanda.

The president of crisis-hit Democratic Republic of Congo was set to meet his Rwandan counterpart at an emergency summit on Wednesday, as fighters backed by Kigali appeared on the brink of seizing the key city of Goma.

Rwanda-backed fighters advanced on a second front in their offensive across eastern DR Congo on Wednesday after seizing control of the key city of Goma during heavy fighting with the Congolese military.

Rwandan-backed M23 fighters captured Goma. It's an advance that could escalate an already deeply divided region.

Rwandan-backed rebels declare they are now in control of the key eastern Congolese city of Goma, as their troops continue to claim more territory in the mineral rich region.