The Rwandan government has condemned the US decision to sanction a government minister for his alleged role in the conflict in the east of neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Friday that strongly condemned the ongoing offensive by M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

As Rwanda-backed rebels strolled through the streets of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's second-largest city, President Felix Tshisekedi's office claimed it was actually still controlled by his army and "valiant" allied forces.

Central to their campaign is the assertion that ethnic Tutsis living in DR Congo are being persecuted. Digging into the status of Tutsis in DR Congo - and how exactly this relates to the M23 uprising - is an extremely complex and sensitive matter that goes to the heart of who is considered to be Congolese.

It is high time the South African National Defence Forces' (SANDF) holed up in a UN base camp in DR Congo's North Kivu Province returned home since they have no business in AFC/M23 rebel-held territory.

Rebels advanced on several fronts in DR Congo's volatile east Friday as the UN Security Council for the first time called on Rwanda to stop backing the M23 group and

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have entered Bukavu, the second-largest city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, seizing the regional governor's office. Some people lined the streets to clap and cheer the fighters as they marched and drove into the city centre without resistance.

In a unanimous resolution, the Security Council condemned the M23 advances with the support of the Rwanda Defense Forces. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also called for a ceasefire in the region.

M23 fighters on Friday advanced further on several fronts in DR Congo's volatile east as international pressure mounted on Rwanda to stop backing the armed group and halt the fighting. The European Union on Friday summoned Rwanda's ambassador to demand Kigali pull out troops from the country and stop backing the armed group.