Rebels from the Rwanda-backed M23 group have reportedly killed North Kivu Governor, Peter Cirimwami as fighting intensifies in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The governor was fatally injured on Thursday while visiting the frontline, according to UN documents cited by Reuters and AFP.
The M23 insurgency, which has escalated since the start of the year, has displaced over 400,000 people and resulted in the deaths of more than 200 civilians in areas under rebel control.
The group is advancing toward the key city of Goma, capturing the towns of Masisi, Minova, and, most recently, Sake.
Goma, a city of over one million near the Rwandan border, is at the heart of the escalating conflict.
Residents face growing fears of food shortages as roads into the city are blocked by the rebels.
Local leaders warn that Goma is “suffocated,” with no viable entry or exit routes. Hospitals in the city are overwhelmed by the influx of injured civilians fleeing the violence.
“The town of Goma is held in a vice. This population is suffering enormously,” said local union leader Bahala Shamavu Innocent.
Espoir Ngalukiye, a member of the opposition party, Ensemble pour la République, expressed similar concerns: “In Goma, we are not safe. No one who lives here can say they are without fear.”
As the M23 captures more territory, displaced families are fleeing in panic, carrying essentials such as mattresses on their backs or cramming into overcrowded wooden boats. Some of those fleeing had already been displaced by previous rounds of fighting.
UN reports confirm that two children were killed by bombs that fell on a camp for displaced people. Thousands of families are now seeking refuge in Goma and surrounding areas.
The worsening crisis prompted Congolese President, Félix Tshisekedi to cut short his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos.
He returned to DR Congo on Thursday for urgent security meetings with top officials.
The United Nations, the DR Congo government, and multiple international organizations allege that Rwanda supports the M23 rebels, with UN experts estimating that 3,000 to 4,000 Rwandan troops are operating alongside the group. Rwanda has neither confirmed nor denied the accusations.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the conflict risks spiraling into a regional war.
In a statement, he urged “all actors to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to put an end to all forms of support to armed groups.”
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