In the last 48 hours, two U.N. peacekeepers from South Africa and one from Uruguay were killed and 11 peacekeepers were injured and hospitalized.

The city’s capture came following a 48-hour deadline imposed by the group for the Congolese army to surrender their weapons.

Rwanda-backed rebels entered the outskirts of eastern Congo’s largest city, Goma, on Sunday, causing what the United Nations called “mass panic” among its 2 million people and leading

Rwanda-backed rebels claimed they captured eastern Congo's largest city, Goma, early Monday, as the United Nations described a mass panic among its 2 million people and Congo's government said the rebel advance was a declaration of war.

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels claim to have captured Goma, escalating tensions in eastern Congo's mineral-rich region. UN reports mass panic as Congolese forces are urged to surrender. Congo severed ties with Rwanda,

The three-year insurgency by the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23 has intensified, and the U.N. warned the violence could spill into a wider war.

M23 insurgency in eastern Congo has intensified in January with the rebels seizing control of more territory than ever before, prompting the United Nations to warn of the risk of a broader regional war.

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, accompanied by Rwandan forces, advanced on Goma, a regional hub for security and humanitarian operations, this week

The United Nations Security Council on Sunday demanded that M23 rebel forces stop an ongoing offensive and advance towards Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and that "external forces" in the region immediately withdraw.

Rwandan-backed rebels capture Goma, Congo, sparking fears of escalating conflict and humanitarian crisis, amid international calls for peace.