North Kivu Governor Dies in Front-Line Clash with M23 Rebels

Maj. Gen. Peter Cirimwami, the governor of North Kivu province in eastern Congo, has died from injuries sustained during a front-line clash with M23 rebels, authorities confirmed Friday. The death comes as the militant group advances closer to the provincial capital, Goma, intensifying an already dire security and humanitarian crisis.

Cirimwami, who was overseeing military operations in the conflict-ridden region, was injured Thursday while visiting troops near Kasengezi, roughly 13 kilometers (8 miles) from Goma. He succumbed to his wounds in a hospital later that day, according to government, military, and U.N. sources who spoke anonymously due to restrictions on public statements.

The death of the governor coincides with M23’s capture of Sake, a town just 27 kilometers (16 miles) from Goma, severing one of the last major supply routes into the city. Goma, home to nearly 2 million people, remains a critical hub for humanitarian efforts but is now surrounded by rising tensions and heavy fighting.

The M23 rebel group, composed primarily of ethnic Tutsis who broke away from the Congolese army over a decade ago, has steadily gained ground in mineral-rich eastern Congo. This latest escalation has displaced over 178,000 people in just two weeks, adding to the more than 7 million displaced by decades of conflict.

The violence has also reignited accusations against Rwanda, which Congo and U.N. experts allege is supporting M23—claims Rwanda denies despite acknowledging the presence of its troops in eastern Congo.

Goma’s outskirts remain under siege, with displaced families flooding camps already overwhelmed by nearly 600,000 people. Explosions and gunfire echoed across the city on Friday, prompting shop closures and heightened security, including military checkpoints.

As the situation deteriorates, residents like Alliance Gentil, a 25-year-old mother of two, face an uncertain future. “I am fleeing, but I don’t know where I am going,” she said, reflecting the despair of thousands caught in the conflict.

The humanitarian toll and ongoing clashes underline the urgent need for international intervention to prevent further escalation in one of the world’s most prolonged crises.