Congolese troops pushed back an attempted overnight advance by Rwanda-backed rebels on the eastern city of Goma, two Congolese army sources said on Saturday, after the sound of nearby heavy bombardment rocked the city in the early hours.

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,

Three South African UN peacekeepers were killed fighting the M23 rebels in eastern Congo. Recent advances by M23 near Goma have escalated tensions, prompting the UN to temporarily relocate staff. The unrest highlights one of the world's major humanitarian crises in the mineral-rich region.