The military governor of North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Major-General Peter Cirimwami Nkuba, has died from gunshot wounds sustained during frontline combat against advancing M23 rebels, the Congolese army confirmed on Friday.
The death of Maj.-Gen. Nkuba comes as violence intensifies in DR Congo’s mineral-rich east, where the Tutsi-led M23 group is pushing toward Goma, the provincial capital.
Naija News gathered that the ongoing conflict has displaced tens of thousands and raised fears of a broader regional war.
Army spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge disclosed at a press briefing that Maj.-Gen. Nkuba, who had governed North Kivu since 2023, was injured while supervising troops roughly 20 kilometers from Goma.
“He was wounded on the field and evacuated to Kinshasa, where he succumbed to his injuries,” Ekenge stated.
Fighting has escalated in North Kivu, with M23 rebels capturing the towns of Minova and Sake this week. The group has also launched attacks on the main supply routes leading to Goma, cutting off critical access to the city of over one million people.
On Friday, the Congo River Alliance (AFC), which includes M23, declared its intention to seize Goma.
The UN peacekeeping mission in Congo, MONUSCO, confirmed heavy artillery strikes against M23 positions near Sake in the past 48 hours. Nine UN peacekeepers have been injured in the conflict, according to UN spokesperson Farhan Haq.
Hospitals in Goma are nearing capacity, with the UN refugee agency reporting a surge in displaced persons, which has doubled to 400,000 in the past week.
“We are witnessing a cruel lack of medical supplies and facilities,” said Myriam Favier, head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Goma. “Medical staff are fleeing, and patients are left untreated for days.”
The Congolese government and the UN have accused Rwanda of backing the M23 insurgency with troops and weapons, a charge Rwanda has repeatedly denied.
The rebels assert their actions defend Tutsi interests against ethnic Hutu militias involved in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
“The offensive has taken a devastating toll on the civilian population,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric warned, adding that the situation could spark a regional war.
The Congolese government has called on the UN Security Council to address the crisis, criticizing the Council for inaction.
“This crisis is the result of the Council’s failure to act, despite clear evidence of Rwandan involvement on Congolese soil,” the foreign ministry stated on X.
As heavy bombardments continue, families from at least nine camps on Goma’s outskirts have fled into the city, many spending nights in open spaces and streets, according to UNHCR spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh.
The M23 rebellion, which briefly captured Goma in 2012, has now gained more territory than in its previous campaign, heightening fears of prolonged instability in the region.
With M23’s advance and the escalating humanitarian crisis, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene.
The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss the crisis as DR Congo’s government grapples with protecting its citizens and restoring stability.
