Congo M23 rebels seize two more towns as president seeks support abroad

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels fighting in eastern Congo seized two towns on their march towards a provincial capital, residents and the rebels said on Friday, as the president seeks international support to end the crisis.

The rebels have been trying to push south towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, since they seized Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, at the end of last month.

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi flew to Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference, the presidency said in a statement on social media on Friday. A source at the presidency said he would fly to Addis Ababa on Friday evening to attend the African Union summit on Saturday.

The conflict will be high on the agenda at the annual two-day meeting in the Ethiopian capital.

Read more: Reuters