Analysts say the deadly march by Rwanda-backed rebels across eastern Congo could widen into a regional conflict drawing in even more countries, and two neighboring nations with the most involvement in the mineral-rich area might be the key to stopping the violence.

The rebels, who captured the region's largest city of Goma, issued a 72-hour ultimatum for displaced people to return to their villages. View on euronews

The takeover of Bukavu would constitute an unparalleled extension of territory under the M23’s control, as well as a further blow to Kinshasa’s authority in eastern Congo following the collapse of Goma,

M23 now controls nearly all of North Kivu and the province’s vast mineral wealth—including tin (cassiterite), tantalum (coltan), tungsten (wolframite), and gold, which are critical for global electronics and industrial production.

The capture of Goma, the main city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, last week by the M23 rebel group follows a three-year insurgency heavily supported by neighbouring Rwanda despite its awful impact on millions of Congolese civilians.

The U.N. says more than 110,000 displaced people have in recent days left settlement camps in eastern Congo’s cities controlled by Rwanda-backed rebels after the rebels were accused of forced camp clo

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo threatened on Tuesday to advance on the provincial capital of Bukavu, citing a "dangerously deteriorating" situation, amid renewed skirmishes on the front line.