Bukavu (DR Congo) (AFP) – Burundi troops – allies of Kinshasa – were still deploying Tuesday in east DR Congo, as the UK announced it was suspending most direct bilateral aid to Rwanda over an offensive by M23 fighters that UN experts say is supported by soldiers from the east African nation.

“Rwanda may have security concerns but it is unacceptable to resolve these militarily. There can only be a political solution to this conflict,” a UK government spokesperson said, adding that the aid would be suspended “until significant progress” was made in reducing the fighting.

M23 fighters took control of South Kivu provincial capital Bukavu just over a week ago, after capturing Goma, the capital of North Kivu and main city in the country’s east, late last month.

The group has advanced easily in the region in recent weeks, without any real opposition from the DRC army whose soldiers committed atrocities as they fled, according to residents.

“Since Sunday, we have observed movements of heavily armed Burundian soldiers heading towards Luvungi”, some by road from Uvira, others “crossing the Ruizi River” which runs along the border between the DRC and Burundi, a resident of Sange, located halfway between Uvira and Luvungi, explained to AFP by telephone.

Many Wazalendo – pro-Kinshasa militia – “are joining them in Luvungi”, the resident added under condition of anonymity.

M23 troops are present around the town of Kamanyola around 75 kilometres (47 miles) north of Uvira.

The town “is calm” but “continues to empty of its inhabitants who fear a resumption of clashes”, a resident of the town told AFP on condition of anonymity.

South African troops seriously wounded in the conflict in east DRC have returned home for treatment, their military said on Tuesday.

African countries appointed Tuesday a trio of ex-leaders to oversee a push for peace in the region, while an International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor arrived to investigate the upsurge in violence.

“We are extremely worried about recent developments in Congo, we know the situation particularly in the east is acute,” ICC prosecutor Karim Khan told reporters on his arrival in the capital Kinshasa.

Two regional African blocs – the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) – have come together in recent weeks in an attempt to install a ceasefire.

They said late Monday that ex-Kenya president Uhuru Kenyatta, ex-Ethiopia prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn and ex-Nigeria president Olusegun Obasanjo had been appointed “facilitators” of a new peace process.

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