The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, will not participate in trades negotiated at the regional level aimed at ending the rebellious assault against the key to Goma Eastern, reported the state media.
Chef Kenyan William Ruto invited Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame to a regional summit later Wednesday, while the corpses were on the streets of Goma after heavy fights.
Neighboring Rwanda is accused of having supported the Rebel M23 group, which has taken over a large part of the city, including its airport.
About 280 Romanian mercenaries who were fighting on the side of the army of Dr Congo had surrendered to M23, The Rwanda Defense Force (DRF) said on X.
Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo told the BBC that Rwanda would participate in Summit, but did not say if Kagame would attend.
The UN says that there is in -depth evidence that Rwanda supports M23, but Rwanda denies providing direct military support to the rebels.
Goma was especially silent on Wednesday, with sporadic shots reports in certain districts.
Residents who had hidden in safe areas have ventured to buy food that becomes increasingly rare after days of combat.
The official news agency of Dr Congo said that Tshisekedi would not attend the top of the heads of state called by Ruto as president of the Eastern African Community (EAC). This did not give a reason for his decision.
Since the beginning of the week, the clashes between the M23 rebels and the army and its allies have left hospitals overwhelmed by victims and bodies in the streets, according to the UN.
The warehouses with food and medical supplies have also been looted, assistance agencies said.
The essential services have not been available since the start of the offensive, with electricity, water and internet cutting.
The growing anger of the rebellious offensive led the demonstrators to target foreign embassies in the capital, Kinshasa.
At least 10 embassies were damaged and looted by demonstrators who demanded that the international community intervene to end the rebellious assault, while they were tightening their grip on Goma.
The DRF said that the Romanian mercenaries were transported to the capital of Rwanda, Kigali, after “went to M23 after the capture of the strategic city”.
The AFP news agency reports that dozens of Romanians – which she called private military entrepreneurs – had fled in the Rwandan city in Gisenyi, just above the border of Goma.
“We were not on a battlefield, we were here to train and help artillery,” said that Amele only gave the name Emile.
“What I learned is that anything can happen. I came. I did my job and now I’m happy to go back and be with my family,” he added.
In an apparent attempt to extend their territorial control in eastern Dr. Congo, the rebels of M23 now advanced to the city of Bukavu by the lake, said the reuters news agency, cited five diplomatic and security sources .
