None of Zawadi Sifa's seven children have known life without fear and the constant threat of violence. Her story mirrors that of thousands of other families displaced by violence in eastern Congo, where Rwanda-backed rebels last month seized the key city of Goma,

The rebels continued advances in eastern Congo despite their own announcement of a cease-fire. The U.N. secretary-general called for them to lay down their guns and agree to mediation.

Democratic Republic of Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi will take part in a joint summit of Eastern and Southern African leaders starting on Friday to discuss the conflict in its east, where Rwandan-backed rebels are seizing more territory.

The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group was threatening another key town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday, as the United Nations top rights body said it would launch an investigation into alleged violations and abuses during the deadly clashes gripping the African nation.

The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group continued its advance Thursday through eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and looked poised to seize a strategic town, as United Nations chief Antonio Guterres call