The capture of the city has cut off the supply of goods to North Kivu, an emerging market for East African Community (EAC) member states.

Amid tragic escalation of violence in Congo, Bishop Willy Ngumbi Ngengele of Goma has assured the people of the church's closeness and compassion, as rebels entered the eastern city of Goma, forcing thousands to flee and triggering wave of looting and deaths.

By Yassin Kombi and David Lewis GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo were moving south on Wednesday towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province,

Goma is a lucrative hub because of its niche to valuable deposits of gold, coltan and tin which are minerals essential in the global supply chain for electronics and industrial manufacturing.

Speaking to BBC Newshour while being locked down in a UN bunker in the city, the deputy head of the UN force, Vivian van de Perre, said the M23 rebels had "established" themselves in Goma, but were still facing "pockets of resistance".

Kenya has announced a virtual crisis summit, but Congolese state media says President Felix Tshisekedi will not attend.

The M23 rebel group has declared the key city of Goma under its control, signalling a big blow to the Congolese army.

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.

Bodies are lying on the streets. Medical staff in overwhelmed hospitals are treating hundreds of wounded civilians against the backdrop of gunfire and explosions. Electricity, water and internet access are cut off,

According to reports, the Romanian government and the US intervened to ensure the safe passage of the mercenaries.

The latest fighting has intensified a humanitarian crisis, displacing more than 400,000 people since the start of the year, and raised fears of sparking a regional war, the U.N. has warned.