– Rebel leader Corneille Nangaa holds news conference in Goma, asserting control on eastern city, home to some 3 million people

NAIROBI, Kenya – The Democratic Republic of Congo vowed Thursday to reclaim the strategic city of Goma as M23 rebels said the group, which is allegedly backed by Rwanda, was open to talks with Kinshasa.

Congolese Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya Katembwe told South African state broadcaster SABC that the government of President Felix Tshisekedi has vowed to reclaim Goma from the rebels.

Muyaya also accused Rwandan President Paul Kagame of fueling the conflict for economic gain.

“President Kagame, for the past three years, has used the eastern part of Congo as a place where he can bring trouble so he can make sure he is controlling mineral resources, which are used to build his economy in Rwanda,” he alleged.

Kigali has denied that it backs the M23 rebels led by political chief Corneille Nangaa, who recently led the Congolese electoral commission.

After days of an offensive to assert control over Goma, Nangaa held a news conference Thursday in the eastern city, vowing to restore electricity and water supplies.

He said, however, that the rebel group was open to talks with the government of Tshisekedi, a proposal quickly rejected by Congolese Defense Minister Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita.

Leaders of the East African Community (EAC) urged Kinshasa on Wednesday to engage M23 rebels in direct talks as part of efforts to de-escalate the conflict in eastern Congo.

However, Tshisekedi skipped the virtual meeting hosted by Kenya, which was also attended by Kagame.

Nangaa said the armed group would march towards the capital, Kinshasa, nearly 1,600 kilometers (994 miles) to the west of Goma, according to RadioTV 10, which live-streamed the news conference.

The M23 launched a major offensive last week in Goma, home to around 3 million people.

Kinshasa, however, accused Kigali of sending Rwandan troops to the city to support the rebels.

While Kigali has denied backing the rebels, regional leaders have made calls for an immediate ceasefire as dozens of people have lost their lives while hundreds have been injured.

Uganda has also been accused of backing the M23 rebels, a claim Kampala rejects.

Several reports claimed that nearly 100 people had been killed over the past week, but Anadolu could not independently confirm the exact death toll.

Thousands have been displaced, many of whom have fled to Rwanda, including staff of international organizations such as the UN and the World Bank.

Kigali has said that nine of its citizens died in alleged cross-border fire from Goma. At least 17 peacekeepers have also been killed since last week.