The UN is temporarily relocating non-essential staff from Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Saturday without interrupting its operations in the country at a time heightened security concerns.

In recent weeks, the armed conflict between the M23/AFC and the Congolese army, backed by their allies, has flared up again in the province of North Kivu and spread to the neighbouring province of South Kivu.

In a statement issued by his Spokesperson, António Guterres noted the Rwandan-backed rebels’ reported seizure of Sake, in South Kivu, “which increases the threat” to the regional capital Goma – all of which is “ heightening the threat of a regional war ”. Rwanda denies any direct involvement with M23 fighters.

JOHANNESBURG (South Africa), Jan 26 (Bernama-AA) - The United Nations (UN) said on Saturday that it is temporarily relocating non-essential staff from Goma in eastern Congo because of the deteriorating security situation in North Kivu province, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.

The governor of North Kivu, Major-General Peter Cirimwami, has died in the fighting between the Congolese army and the M23. The Congolese army confirmed the death on Friday, after a meeting of the Defence Council that President Felix Tshisekedi chaired.

Fighting has escalated sharply in recent weeks in eastern Congo, where rebels have seized key towns and are closing in on the city of Goma, the government’s last stronghold in the North Kivu province,

The UN Security Council will convene an emergency meeting on Sunday over deadly clashes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, after Kinshasa withdrew its diplomats from Kigali as Rwanda-backed rebe

Authorities in eastern Congo say M23 rebels have seized the town of Minova, a key supply route for the provincial capital, Goma.

(Reuters) - Congo has severed all diplomatic ties with Rwanda and South Africa said yesterday that nine of its peacekeepers had been killed amid a surge

Authorities say the governor of eastern Congo’s North-Kivu province has died from injuries sustained on the front line as M23 rebels close in on Goma

The Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu governor, Major General Peter Cirimwami Nkuba, has died from injuries inflicted during a battle with M23 rebels. The violence in the region, particularly around Goma,