Countries bordering the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo sought to shore up defences on Wednesday as violence spreads through the region, with Burundi forced to pull back troops and Uganda securing a key city.

There are fears the escalation of fighting between troops and militias in the vast mineral-rich region could trigger a repeat of the devastating Congo wars of the 1990s and 2000s that drew in multiple countries and left millions dead.

The latest escalation follows the rapid advance of the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group, which has seized vast tracts of the eastern DRC in recent weeks including the key cities of Goma and Bukavu.

The M23's southward march has threatened the small, landlocked country of Burundi in particular, with senior army and government sources telling AFP of deadly clashes that have forced its troops back across the border.

Burundi had more than 10,000 troops assisting the Congolese army against the M23, while also hunting down Burundian rebel groups based in the region.

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