Army General Sylvain Ekenge, spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), gave details this Saturday on the death of General Peter Cirimwami, military governor of North Kivu, and took stock on the ongoing fighting in the east of the country.
The circumstances of the death of Peter Cirimwami
According to General Sylvain Ekenge, the military governor was killed by a Rwandan army sniper while he accompanied the commander of the 34th military region to galvanize the troops.
“It was the 25th assassination attempt against him,” said the army spokesperson. One of his bodyguards was also killed in the attack, while two others were injured but are out of danger.
Situation at the front: intense fighting in Goma and South Kivu
General Ekenge confirmed that fighting continues around Goma. Thanks to the support of MONUSCO and the troops of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), the FARDC managed to repel the Rwandan forces and the M23, who are trying to seize the city.
“We will not let them enter Goma,” he declared firmly.
In the neighboring province of South Kivu, the M23 also attempted an offensive towards Nyabibwe, about 100 kilometers from Goma. “They have been stopped, and operations continue,” added the general.
-Response within 48 hours
In response to the 48-hour ultimatum given by the M23 to the FARDC, General Ekenge said: “The war begins now. »
Context
The security situation in eastern DRC remains critical, with clashes involving the FARDC, supported by local militias and international forces, against the M23 rebel group and the Rwandan army. These tensions are worsening the humanitarian crisis in the region, where hundreds of thousands of civilians are displaced by the violence.
Belgium
