Maj. Gen. Peter Cirimwami, the governor of Congo’s North Kivu province, has died from injuries sustained while visiting the front line as fighting intensifies between Congolese forces and M23 rebels, officials said Friday. The conflict has brought M23 forces closer to Goma, a critical city of 2 million people and a hub for humanitarian and security operations.
Cirimwami, who was also leading military operations in the region, sustained fatal injuries on Thursday during a visit to troops in Kasengezi, about 13 kilometers (8 miles) from Goma. He was evacuated to a hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. The Congolese army spokesperson, Gen. Sylvain Ekenge, confirmed the governor’s death, stating, “He fell on the field of honor.”
The death comes as M23 rebels continue their advance, capturing several key towns, including Sake, only 27 kilometers (16 miles) from Goma, cutting off one of the last main routes into the city. Fighting has escalated in Kibumba to the north and Sake to the west, displacing more than 178,000 people in the past two weeks, according to U.N. reports.
The M23 rebel group, composed mainly of ethnic Tutsis, has been active in the mineral-rich eastern Congo for over a decade. The group seized Goma briefly in 2012 and has since sought to establish control over strategic territories. Congo, the U.S., and U.N. experts accuse Rwanda of backing M23, allegations Rwanda denies. However, Rwanda acknowledges deploying troops to eastern Congo, citing border security concerns.
The humanitarian impact is devastating. Tens of thousands of displaced people have fled to camps near Goma, which already host nearly 600,000 individuals. The U.N. refugee agency reports that the camps in Lushagala and Bulengo, located just meters from the front line, face imminent danger.
In Goma, fear and uncertainty prevail. Heavy weapon explosions echoed through the city Friday, prompting widespread shop closures and increased police and military presence. Alliance Gentil, a 25-year-old mother of two, expressed her despair after being displaced multiple times. “I am fleeing, but I don’t know where I am going,” she said.
The situation in eastern Congo remains dire, with the conflict contributing to one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, displacing over 7 million people and leaving the region in turmoil.
