The M23 rebels in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo are closed in the second major city of Bukavu as they continue their advance.
The progress of the fighters comes despite international calls for the termination of fire and the resumption of peace talks.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced from their homes in recent weeks as a result of the rebel's advance.
Last month, led by Tutsi M23, which is supported by neighboring Rwanda, Seized Goma, the main city in the east -rich richS The Congoan government accuses Rwanda of sowing chaos in the region to take advantage of its resources, rejected a claim that Rwanda denied.
The M23 briefly captured Goma in a previous conflict in 2012, but the acceptance of Bukavu, which is the capital of the province of South Kivu, would be a new phase in the tumultuous recent history of the region.
The city bordering Rwanda is on the southern end of Kivu Lake and is an important transit point for local mineral trade.
Earlier on Friday, the fighter jets entered the airport about 30 km (19 miles) north of Bukavu, as the Congoan army and militia allied with it withdrew without stating much resistance.
But there were heavy clashes on the outskirts of Bukavu, South Kivu's deputy gubber Jean Elecano, told the BBC.
Residents related to the BBC said the authorities advised the residents to remain indoors.
As he spoke at the Munich Security Conference, Congo President Felix Tshiziekedes called on Rwanda to be sanctioned, accusing him of having “expansionist ambitions,” the AFP News Agency reports.
“We will no longer put up with our strategic resources to be looted in favor of foreign interests under the accomplices of those who eat chaos,” he quoted.
In addition to being accused of supporting the rebels, Rwanda denied, it is said that the country also has its own troops in East Congo.
Rwanda Pen Paul Kagame said his country's priority is security. He said Rwanda was in danger of Hutu's rebels in Congo and rejected any threat of sanctions.
The news of the last progress is coming, as the state leaders of the continent must meet at the African Union Summit (AC) in Ethiopia on Saturday.
The Head of the Au Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat Is Quoted by AFP As Saying That A Ceasefire “Must Be Obes” Adding That “Military Campaigns. on this Issue and I I hope we will be able to impose this cessation of fire. “
Additional reporting by Alfred Lasteck.