Central to their campaign is the assertion that ethnic Tutsis living in DR Congo are being persecuted. Digging into the status of Tutsis in DR Congo - and how exactly this relates to the M23 uprising - is an extremely complex and sensitive matter that goes to the heart of who is considered to be Congolese.

Rwanda's foreign ministry said the sanctions would not resolve the conflict in the DR Congo, terming them "unjustified and unfounded". They come as the M23 appears to be continuing its advance after capturing two major cities in recent weeks in the mineral-rich east of DR Congo.

The United Nations Security Council will vote on Friday to call on Rwanda's military to stop supporting the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and immediately withdraw all troops from Congolese territory "without preconditions.