Right-hand man to Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Kabarebe, 53, for two decades has been a central figure shaping the often violent history of the Central African region.

A report says that Rwanda's defense minister is personally running the M23 rebellion, and that both Rwanda and Uganda are arming its fighters

"Rwanda has maintained covert capacity to shape events in the east (of Congo). They never let go."

Warnings came ahead of summit in Congo, where Francois Hollande was expected to urge deployment of an African-led force to rout Islamists.

French President Hollande called the state of human rights in the DRC "totally unacceptable" ahead of a planned summit.

Virunga National Park is facing threats from a new rebel group and from a controversial decision to open it to oil exploration.

Conservationists fear oil exploration may irrevocably harm the park.

President Paul Kagame said Western governments were "dead wrong" in blaming Rwanda for the rebellion in neighbouring eastern Congo.

Six people were killed in shootouts linked to Congolese army in Goma.

Congo's mineral-rich east is facing the worst upsurge in fighting in years.