The rebels are advancing toward the provincial capital, Goma, as the number of civilians forced to flee their homes has surged to 400,000 this year alone.

The military governor of North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reportedly died from gunshot wounds sustained on the front line during an offensive by M23 rebels. The rebels are advancing on two fronts near Goma, the provincial capital, in the volatile eastern region of the country, causing tens of thousands to flee and prompting warnings from the UN about the potential for the violence to escalate into a broader regional conflict.

Major General Peter Cirimwami Nkuba, who had governed the province since 2023, succumbed to his injuries on Thursday, according to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press, citing a UN document and government officials. The internal UN report viewed by Reuters stated that the governor was wounded while directing troops about 20 kilometers from Goma.

The report further noted that he passed away during an air evacuation from Goma for advanced medical treatment. Fighting has intensified in Congo’s resource-rich eastern region since the beginning of the year, with the M23 group capturing more territory than ever before.

The rebel Congo River Alliance (AFC), which includes M23, announced on Friday their intention to capture Goma, a city of over one million residents and the provincial capital. Congo’s government and the UN have accused neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23 insurgency with troops and weapons, allegations Rwanda has denied. The M23 rebels derive their name from a March 23, 2009, agreement between the Congolese government and former rebels. They claim the government breached this agreement and assert they are defending Tutsi interests against ethnic Hutu militias, whose leaders were involved in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

The number of displaced people due to the conflict has surged to 400,000 in the past week, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, which has raised alarms about hospitals nearing their capacity. The conflict is having a devastating impact on civilians and increasing the risk of a regional war, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric warned on Thursday.

The rebels captured the town of Minova on Tuesday and then moved into Sake, located about 20 kilometers west of Goma. They have also launched attacks along the primary road north of the city, severing key supply routes. On Thursday, the Congolese government stated that the army had successfully repelled the rebels’ advance on Sake and was securing Goma. However, the UN condemned the recent capture of Sake, describing it as a heightened threat to Goma.

The situation in Sake remained uncertain on Friday. Local sources and a representative from an international charity, speaking anonymously, confirmed ongoing clashes in the area. Heavy bombardments have driven families from at least nine displacement camps around Goma into the city. Many of them spent the night sleeping outdoors, according to UNHCR spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh, who shared the update in Geneva.

The M23 previously captured Goma during a 2012 rebellion, leading international donors to suspend aid to Rwanda. However, the rebels did not control as much territory then as they do now. In response to the crisis, Congo’s foreign ministry has called for an urgent public session of the UN Security Council, criticizing its inaction despite evidence of Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict.