Rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have confirmed their takeover of Goma, the largest city in the country’s mineral-rich east, forcing thousands of people to flee and sparking fears of a regional war.

The Rwanda-backed M23 rebel movement has made rapid advances in the DRC’s eastern border areas this month and began its assault on Goma earlier this week. Goma is in our hands,” Nanga said.

Hours after Rwandan troops and rebel fighters entered the city, heavy artillery bombardment could be heard in the centre of the city and chaos reigned.

A prison in the city of Goma witnessed a mass jailbreak on Monday morning, hours after the M23 armed group entered the city.

Meanwhile, buses are preparing to evacuate UN staff and their families from the besieged city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) across the Rwandan border, according to Rwandan state media.