The development comes days after Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba said UPDF would deploy in Bunia, which is located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Congo’s border with Uganda, unless "all forces" there surrendered.

Ugandan troops have entered Bunia, an eastern Congolese city, to support local forces in curbing violence by armed groups. Following a meeting with Congolese troops, a joint deployment was agreed to address ethnic violence.

DAKAR, Senegal — Rwanda-backed rebels appeared to be heading toward a third major city in eastern Congo, residents said Tuesday, as international pressure rose over the M23's expansion in a mineral-rich region that’s critical for global technology.

Uganda deployed more forces to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting the growing risk of a widening conflict in the unrest-prone, mineral-rich region.

Ugandan forces have entered the city of Bunia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the request of local authorities. The intention is to safeguard the civilian population from rebel assaults. At the request of the country's authorities,