The city’s capture by M23 means neighbouring Burundi, an ally of the DRC government, now shares a border with an area controlled by the rebels, escalating the risk of cross-border conflict

Sources said Mnangagwa and Ramaphosa discussed Kabila’s predicament in Zimbabwe in August and agreed that the treason charges were not fair

Kabila, who has been living in exile since late 2023, faces charges including treason, complicity with M23 rebels, crimes against humanity and corruption

The international relations department was not aware of the rebels’ presence in South Africa

Opposition officials in the DRC have accused the government of blocking their attempts to travel to the forum hosted by the Thabo Mbeki Foundation

Urgent diplomatic interventions are needed as the second largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo falls to M23

The conflict has raged between rebels of the March 23 Movement and Congolese armed forces since late 2021

Much of the region is prey to armed groups, an aftermath of regional wars in the 1990s and 2000s

Clashes broke out again at the start of October after six months of relative calm, pitting rebels against the national army