Congo has severed all diplomatic ties with Rwanda and South Africa said on Saturday that nine of its peacekeepers had been killed amid a surge in fighting with Rwanda-backed rebels in mineral-rich eastern Congo.

Fighting has escalated sharply in recent weeks in eastern Congo, where rebels have seized key towns and are closing in on the city of Goma, the government’s last stronghold in the North Kivu province,

Congo has severed diplomatic ties with Rwanda amid intensifying M23 insurgency and ongoing battles. Allegations of Rwanda's involvement in the conflict have been denied by Rwanda, but tensions rose with the killing of a Congolese military governor.