The decision on the Democratic Republic of Congo's broken contacts takes effect "immediately" according to the country's foreign ministry.
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting in New York today due to the crisis. Ahead of the meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that Rwanda must cease its support to M23, which he condemns, and that the country must leave the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The rebel group M23 has, in its latest offensive, approached the central city of Goma, with around two million inhabitants, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Goma also hosts a large part of the international aid organizations and peacekeeping efforts present in the country.
Goma's international airport was closed and evacuated on Sunday afternoon due to the security situation. Earlier, several countries have urged their citizens who are in the region to immediately leave Goma.
At least two people were injured, according to the UN peacekeeping forces, when a drone from Rwanda attacked targets just north of Goma.
Fallen Peacekeepers
In clashes with M23, at least 13 foreign soldiers in peacekeeping forces have been killed in recent days, including seven South African soldiers.
Rwanda denies involvement in the conflict or supporting the rebel group M23. However, the regime under President Paul Kagame has previously confirmed that Rwandan forces and military equipment are present in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to "ensure security". UN experts estimate that there are around 4,000 Rwandan soldiers in the neighboring country.
The rebel movement M23 emerged over a decade ago and consists partly of fighters from the Tutsi ethnic group who deserted from the Democratic Republic of Congo's army.
Multiple Rebel Groups
Through the latest offensive, the rebel group M23 appears as the leading group among those fighting in the mineral-rich but economically and humanitarily ravaged eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. According to estimates from the UN, among others, there are around 100 rebel groups active in the eastern part of the country.
António Guterres warned on Friday that the rebel group's offensive "increases the threat of a regional war".
UN agencies also emphasize that the consequences of the fighting are enormous. Around 400,000 are internally displaced in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, and nearly six million inhabitants have already been forced to flee their homes in four provinces in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
