High-ranking military official killed amid ongoing clashes in the DRC

Synopsis

On January 25, Peter Cirimwami, the military governor of North Kivu in the DRC, was killed due to violent clashes with M23 rebels. The situation has escalated, prompting international concern and warnings for citizens to evacuate from the region.

Key Takeaways

Peter Cirimwami was killed during a frontline visit amid ongoing clashes with M23 rebels.
The M23 has taken control of Sake, threatening the safety of Goma.
International embassies are advising evacuations from North Kivu.
DRC President Tshisekedi vows to reclaim territory from aggressors.
UN Secretary-General Guterres condemns M23's renewed offensive and calls for a ceasefire.

Kinshasa, Jan 25 (NationPress) Peter Cirimwami, the military governor of North Kivu, a province currently under a state of siege in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has been killed amidst intense conflict and the advances of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, as confirmed by authorities.

Cirimwami was hit by gunfire on Thursday while visiting the front lines and succumbed to his injuries during an evacuation for medical assistance, reported Sylvain Ekenge, a spokesperson for the DRC military, during a briefing on Friday.

This tragic event unfolded amidst fierce confrontations between the DRC military and M23 rebels, who have seized control of Sake, a strategically significant area seen as the final stronghold before Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, according to Xinhua news agency.

The situation has led to widespread panic among displaced individuals throughout Goma, a vital city that was under M23 control for ten days in 2012. Numerous foreign embassies have issued warnings, encouraging their citizens to evacuate North Kivu while airports and borders remain operational.

In response, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi stated that "the aggressor must be tracked down, pushed far from Goma, and pursued until the entire national territory is reclaimed."

Intense explosions resulting from the ongoing clashes between the DRC military and the M23 have been reported around Sake. Guillaume Njike Kaiko, a spokesperson for the DRC military in North Kivu, indicated on Friday that efforts to liberate Sake, now under M23 occupation, are ongoing.

"We have already halted the enemy's advance toward Goma. At this moment, we urge the population to stay calm as our armed forces are fully engaged on the front lines against the enemy. We assure you that the army will restore order on the ground," he communicated to Xinhua over the phone.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced his concerns over the resurgence of hostilities by the M23. In a statement from his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on Thursday, Guterres condemned the M23's renewed offensive since the start of this year and its expansion into North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, including the recent takeover of Sake, which poses an increased threat to Goma.

With the offensive inflicting severe casualties among the civilian population and escalating the risk of a wider regional conflict, Guterres urged the M23 to immediately halt its offensive, withdraw from all occupied territories, and adhere to the ceasefire agreement established last August.

The ongoing conflict has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the region, displacing over seven million individuals. Approximately 237,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of 2025, according to the United Nations.