The M23 rebels’ political spokesperson had in the wee hours of Friday morning released a statement claiming that Cirimwami has been shot dead by M23 fighters while in Kasengezi as he visited the front line to take pictures to portray how government army had stopped M23 fighters from conquering Sake town.
Armed
Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) army have finally confirmed the death of Major General Peter Cirimwami Nkuba, military governor of North Kivu.
He was shot dead while on the front to fight against the March 23 Movement (M23)
rebels.
M23 political spokesperson in the wee hours of Friday morning released a
statement claiming that Cirimwami had been shot dead by M23 fighters while in Kasengezi as he visited the front line to take
pictures to portray how the government army had stopped M23 fighters from
conquering Sake town.
"We
announce the death of the Commander-in-Chief of the FDLR, General Chirimwani.
He passed away in Kasengezi when he went there to have his picture taken at the
front”, says Kanyuka in a statement.
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The Government
army stayed mute about the matter until Friday night when General Sylvain
Ekenge, spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo-FARDC
released a statement and confirmed the killing of Cirimwami.
In a statement, Ekenge stated that Cirimwami fell
with his weapon in his hand on the field of honour, was wounded, evacuated and
everything was done to ensure that he arrived in Kinshasa and was taken for
appropriate care outside the country but, unfortunately, he succumbed to his
injuries.
Ekenge added that Cirimwami
would be entitled to a state funeral.
“He
fell with his weapon on the field of honour. He was wounded. He was
evacuated and everything was done to ensure that he arrived in Kinshasa and was
taken for appropriate care outside the country. Unfortunately, he succumbed to
his injuries”, says Ekenge.
Cirimwami
was appointed interim governor of North Kivu in October 2023, replacing
Lieutenant General Constant Ndima Kongba. Ndima had been dismissed following
the brutal repression by the army of an attempted demonstration organized by a
politico-religious sect.
Meanwhile,
despite Ekenge’s death, fierce fighting continued on Friday as the government army tried to dislodge M23 revels from Sake town in vain. Heavy fighting was happening in Mubambiro about 20 kilometres to Goma city by Friday evening.
On Friday night M23 rebels through Kanyuka released a statement
asking civilians in Goma city not to panic and get ready to welcome them
because they are on a liberation mission. However, tension is very high in Goma.
The conflict between M23 and the Congolese government which began in March 2022,
led by Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga has left many parts of
North Kivu province in the hands of the rebels. Bisimwa and Makenga
in August 2024 allied with the leader of the Alliance Fleuve
(River) Congo (AFC) Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo, former Country’s electoral
commission chairman to amplify the insurgency against the government.
The DR
Congo government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting M23, a claim that
both Rwanda and M23 deny. The rebels assert that their fight is against
corruption, xenophobia and discrimination within the DR Congo's leadership.