South Africa often uses its diplomatic heft to position itself as defender of the "global south" on the world stage, but the deaths of 13 of its soldiers in eastern Congo fighting have exposed an inability to project hard power in its own backyard.

The extraordinary summit was called after the Rwanda-backed M23 group captured most of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo this week in fighting that killed 16 soldiers from South Africa and Malawi deployed as part of regional peacekeeping efforts.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa accuses Rwanda of backing M23 rebels behind escalating crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo this week

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned Rwandan President Paul Kagame that failing to halt an assault by Rwanda-backed rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo will carry consequences.