Fighting Escalates in DR Congo After Governor’s Death

Military soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo increased patrols in the government bastion of Goma on Friday, as Rwanda-backed rebels encircled the city.

Residents described the spread of terror as M23 militants took control of Sake, a town only 27 kilometers (16 miles) from the provincial seat, the day before.

Soldiers were observed inspecting passengers’ identities and the contents of their vehicles.

Patrick Salumana, a local cab driver, stated that seeing the military was “reassuring”.

“Last night, like this time, there was widespread panic, but today it’s like a blessing to see soldiers checking,” he recalled.

M23 has made major territorial gains in recent weeks, encircling Goma, home to over 2 million people and a regional hub for security and humanitarian assistance.

The nightly patrols occurred just hours after a military official revealed that the governor of eastern Congo’s North Kivu province died as a result of injuries sustained during frontline fighting.

The circumstances behind Maj. Gen Peter Cirimwami’s death were unclear.

He was struck during a skirmish on the front lines on Thursday and died from his injuries on Friday.

The news sparked widespread worry and mourning in Goma.

“To see the governor die on the battlefield hurts us so much,” said Amani Safari, a local resident.

M23 is one of over 100 armed groups battling for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo, near the Rwandan border, in a decades-long conflict that has resulted in one of the world’s greatest humanitarian catastrophes.

The war has displaced more than 7 million people. Earlier this month, M23 took control of the towns of Minova, Katale, and Masisi west of Goma.

M23 took Goma in 2012 and held it for more than a week.

Congo, the United States, and UN experts accuse Rwanda of supporting M23, which is primarily made up of ethnic Tutsis who defected from the Congolese army more than a decade ago.

The Rwandan government denies the claim, but revealed last year that it has troops and missile systems in eastern Congo to ensure its security, pointing to a buildup of Congolese forces along the border.