France expresses its solidarity regarding the Democratic Republic of Congo and condemns actions by Rwanda in the country, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Monday."France strongly condemns the offensive led by the M23,

France's foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, undertakes a diplomatic mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The mission aims to de-escalate tensions following the M23 rebels' advance into Goma.

President Paul Kagame said Rwanda was ready for "confrontation" as he rejected criticism over his backing for M23 rebels who were pushing south on Thursday in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after capturing the major city of Goma.

A conflict that has raged for decades reached a flashpoint this week when rebels backed by Rwanda marched on a key Congolese city in a bid to occupy territory and exploit minerals.

Rwanda, which diplomats say backs M23 fighters who seized Goma in Democratic Republic of Congo this week, called on Wednesday for a ceasefire across eastern Congo and for Congo to negotiate with the rebels while denying Rwandan troops were involved.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - After three years on the run from the Rwandan-backed M23 insurgency in eastern Congo, on Sunday, with the rebels fighting their way into Goma's city outskirts, Colleta Nzambonimpa found herself in church with nowhere left to turn.

Rebels seized the airport of east Congo's largest city, Goma, on Tuesday, potentially cutting off the main route for aid to reach hundreds of thousands of displaced people, after capturing the city in an offensive that left dead bodies lying in the streets.

France criticizes Rwanda's support of the M23 rebel offensive in the Democratic Republic of Congo. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged for fighting to cease and dialogue to resume. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of peacekeepers and displaced thousands,

Congolese security forces have tried to slow the advance of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels who say they have captured Goma after entering eastern Congo’s largest city

France on Thursday called on Rwandan forces and Kigali-backed M23 rebels to withdraw from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It comes days after M23 claimed control over the key eastern Congolese city of Goma.

On January 28, a mass demonstration took place in Kinshasa in support of the Congolese army and against the policy of several countries, including France, towards Rwanda. It was accompanied by attacks