French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has arrived in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo, where Rwandan-supported rebels are strengthening their hold on Goma in the eastern part of the African country.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of France will be received shortly by the president, announced Giscard Kusema, President Felix Tshisekedi's deputy press director.
A French diplomat verified Barrot's arrival in Kinshasa following the advance of M23 rebels, backed by Rwandan forces, into Goma, and their continued southward offensive, marking the most significant escalation of the long-standing conflict since 2012.
The French Foreign Ministry declined to provide a comment.
Violent demonstrators targeted foreign embassies, including the French mission in Kinshasa, on Tuesday, prompting a response with tear gas from the police in a display of unrest over the eastern conflict.
Barrot addressed parliament on Wednesday, emphasizing the necessity of a diplomatic resolution to the crisis and France's commitment to supporting mediation efforts between the conflicting parties.
Rwanda has faced international condemnation for its involvement in Congo, with the United Nations cautioning that the violence could escalate into a regional conflict.