Heavy gunfire resonated across the key eastern Congolese city of Goma on Sunday from the frontline just a few kilometres away.

Residents in eastern Congo’s largest city, Goma, woke up on Monday morning uncertain about who is in control of the city, which Rwanda-backed rebels claimed to have captured.

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have advanced in eastern Congo, demanding government forces in Goma disarm, aiming to seize the city. The conflict, worsening a severe humanitarian crisis, has led to international condemnation of Rwanda.

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.

Rwandan-backed rebels have marched into east Democratic Republic of Congo's largest city Goma and DR Congolese troops exchanged fire with the Rwandan military across the border in the worst escalation of a long-running conflict for more than a decade.

Rwanda-backed rebels claim they have captured eastern Congo’s largest city, Goma, as the United Nations describe a “mass panic” among its 2 million people and Congo’s government say the rebel advance was a “declaration of war.

Panic spread in Goma, the capital of DR Congo's North Kivu Province, on Thursday, January 23, with M23 rebels reportedly planning to march on the key city after recently gaining more ground ...

The M23 militia, funded and directed by Rwanda, said it had seized the city of Goma, terrifying its people, many of whom sought shelter there after fleeing the rebel advance.

Kigali says at least 5 of its citizens also killed while situation in Goma city remains unclear, according to reports - Anadolu Ajansı

Fighting between M23 and Democratic Republic of the Congo forces has displaced 400,000 since the start of this year, according to the United Nations

The M23 armed group and Rwandan soldiers entered the centre of Goma on Sunday night after weeks of advancing on the main city in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province.