KINSHASA — Felix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, will launch a unity government, his spokeswoman said on Saturday, as he faces domestic pressure over his handling of an offensive by the Rwanda-supported M23 rebels in eastern provinces.

The M23's capture of swathes of eastern Congo and valuable mineral deposits has fanned fears of a wider war and provoked some members of the fractious opposition to openly predict his presidency will not last.

On Saturday, Tshisekedi told a meeting of the ruling Sacred Union coalition not to be distracted by internal quarrels: "We must unite … let's stand together to face the enemy."

Presidency spokeswoman Tina Salama said Tshisekedi would form a government of national unity and make changes in the leadership of the coalition, without giving further details.

Since the start of the year, Congo has faced back-to-back losses in North and South Kivu provinces, fueling criticism of the authorities' military strategy.

The head of the UN mission in DR Congo said on Friday that rebels in the eastern North Kivu Province are hampering peacekeeping operations.

UN mission hindered

"The continued occupation of parts of North Kivu by the M23, supported by the Rwandan defense forces, has severely constrained MONUSCO's ability to fully implement mission requirements," said Bintou Keita, chief of the UN mission in DR Congo, known as MONUSCO. She added that the rebels prevent the UN mission from protecting civilians and carrying out life-saving operations.

Speaking to reporters at the UN headquarters over a video linkup from Kinshasa, the special representative in DR Congo of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the M23 is advancing through South Kivu as part of its stated aim to reach the capital.

MONUSCO withdrew from South Kivu last year following its revised mandate from the Security Council and as requested by the Kinshasa government.

Keita said the operational challenges MONUSCO faces have been confounded by disinformation and hate campaigns that deliberately put the lives of UN peacekeepers at risk.

Stephane Dujarric, the UN secretary-general's chief spokesman, said humanitarian partners have raised concerns that ongoing clashes in South Kivu's Uvira hinder access to those in need and ambulances. He added that hospitals in the province report receiving civilian casualties from the conflict daily.

Agencies - Xinhua