Parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are under siege by a Rwanda-backed rebel group,

and yesterday Congo's president sent a clear message, vowing to fight back.

The M23 rebel group took control of Congo's eastern city of Goma along the Rwandan border

in an offensive launch last week, intensifying decades-long tensions and conflict between the two nations.

The latest violence has killed UN peacekeepers, overwhelmed hospitals,

displaced hundreds of thousands of people,

and sparked fears of a wider regional conflict.

For more now, I'm joined by Therese Kaiquamba Wagner,

the Congolese Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Madam Minister, welcome.

Thanks for being here.

Thank you for having me.

So can you just share with us the latest from any reports you've received on the ground about the situation in Goma?

Has there been any change in the pace or the ferocity of the fighting there?

As you mentioned, we are faced with a dramatic situation.

A very dire humanitarian situation that we have been observing for the past months has been exacerbated by the de facto occupation of sovereign democratic Congo territory by the Rwandan

defense forces. This has led to the breakdown of all health infrastructures. It has led

also to the suppression of water and electricity supply and main access routes. Congolese

citizens, civilians do not have access to hospitals. When they do, they face the risk that hospitals are being shelled.

We also have the very troubling fact that within less than a week, 17 peacekeepers, United Nations peacekeepers, were killed in fighting with the Rwandan Defence Forces and their militia, the M23.

It is an extremely preoccupying situation when it comes to the humanitarian aspect, but also the regional peace that is at stake.

Now, you mentioned the Rwandan defense forces. We should point out, the Rwanda says that they are not backing this M23 rebel group.

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