United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Sunday urged Rwanda to withdraw its forces from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where fierce fighting raged as Kigali-backed fighters closed in on the major city of Goma.

French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting Angolan President Joao Lourenço for a two-day state visit starting Thursday to strengthen political, cultural, and economic ties.

An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council originally set for Monday, has been moved up to Sunday due to an escalation in the fighting.

The Democratic Republic of Congo withdrew its diplomats from Kigali as the Rwanda-backed M23 fighters advanced on the key city of Goma in the east of the country.

Rwanda has confirmed the presence of oil in Lake Kivu, bordering Uganda and DR Congo. The country said there is a possibility of finding more wells in the region.

Angola urged on Tuesday, Jan 21, in New York, the members of the United Nations Security Council to maintain firm support for the Luanda Process that aims to ease political tension between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda in order to achieve peace in the region.

The Congolese army acknowledged on 21 January the advance of M23 rebels in South Kivu province. Backed by Rwanda’s army, the rebels have captured a key town and are trying to isolate Goma as the Angola-led mediation efforts stall.

The UN Security Council will convene an emergency meeting on Sunday over deadly clashes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, after Kinshasa withdrew its diplomats from Kigali as Rwanda-backed rebe

M23 rebels have made rapid advances in the latest bout of conflict that has long-dogged the mineral-rich east.

Intense combat between Congolese forces and Rwandan-backed fighters on Sunday edged closer to the major city of Goma in eastern Democratic republic of Congo as the UN Security Council prepared

South Africa's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Mathu Joyini, has stated that South Africa will continue to contribute to promoting peace and stability in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo and to the continent's overall peacekeeping efforts.