GENERAL PETER CIRIMWAMI: THE BRIDGE BETWEEN KINSHASA AND THE FDLR
Appointment and Role
In mid-September 2023 President Félix Tshisekedi appointed Major General Peter Cirimwami Nkuba, previously a commander in South Kivu, as interim military governor and commander of operations for North Kivu. He assumed office in Goma on 19 September 2023. From 2023 until his death in January 2025, Cirimwami was the highest FARDC authority in the province.
Documented Liaison with FDLR
Cirimwami acted as a direct intermediary between FARDC and FDLR elements (often merged into the so-called “Wazalendo” auxiliary forces).
A UN Group of Experts report (Dec 2024) explicitly portrays Cirimwami as the “intermediary and transmission belt” between the army and its FDLR/Wazalendo proxies.
Human Rights Watch similarly noted that, in mid-2022 under Cirimwami’s Sokola II command, FARDC units supplied ammunition and uniforms to FDLR fighters in Virunga National Park.
HRW records that on 21 July 2022:
“Congolese army members… provided more than a dozen boxes of ammunition to FDLR fighters in Kazaroho.”
These transfers occurred while Cirimwami led operations in Rutshuru territory, confirming his direct role in collusion with the FDLR proxy force.
September 2024 FDLR Operation – Tip-Off
In September 2024 Kinshasa agreed (in principle) to an anti-FDLR offensive as part of the Luanda peace process.
FARDC troops launched attacks on 23–24 September against FDLR positions around Sake, aiming to neutralize the FDLR commander Ntawunguka Pacifique (aka “Omega Israel”).
However, the offensive failed to capture any senior FDLR leaders.
UN experts report that:
“Governor Cirimwami leaked the planned operations to FDLR-FOCA leadership, hence no high-profile commander was killed or arrested. Omega and other FDLR leaders fled to, and reinforced their positions in, Kilimanyoka, Nyiragongo territory.”
Contradiction
In December 2024, as the battle to maintain control of Goma intensified, FARDC leadership successfully enabled the FDLR to establish a strategic frontline base around Goma (Nyiragongo and Kibumba), near the border with Rwanda.
FDLR operatives were deployed during the battle of Goma and became a core component of the coalition of armed groups supporting the Congolese army (FARDC) against the M23 rebel movement.
Fidel Sebagenzi and the Liaison Structure
A key element in the relationship between the Congolese state and the FDLR was the presence of a structured liaison system that allowed orders, communication, and resources to move smoothly between both sides.
According to the UN Group of Experts, Fidel Sebagenzi played a central role in this network, acting as the main intermediary.
As a commander within the FDLR-FOCA hierarchy, Sebagenzi served as the direct link between Ntawunguka Pacifique, also known as Omega Israel, the sanctioned military leader of the FDLR and Major General Peter Cirimwami.
The role of Fidel Sebagenzi was multifaceted:
1. Tactical Coordination
He facilitated meetings between FDLR commanders and FARDC officers to synchronize military operations against the M23 and the Rwandan Defence Force.
2. Resource Allocation
Sebagenzi oversaw the distribution of military equipment and financing provided by the FARDC to FDLR units in territories like Nyiragongo and Masisi.
3. Intelligence Transmission
He served as the conduit for sensitive information regarding FARDC movements and planned offensives, ensuring that the FDLR leadership was always appraised of the state's tactical intentions.
Cirimwami’s State-Honored Burial
Cirimwami’s death on 24 January 2025 (from wounds sustained in combat with M23) was marked by unusually high honors.
Seven months later, on 1 September 2025, President Tshisekedi personally presided over Cirimwami’s state funeral in Kinshasa’s Palais du Peuple.
His body lay in state for over eight months at Camp Tshatshi before burial.
The government posthumously promoted him to Lieutenant-General.
This ceremony – attended by top military brass, government officials and diplomats – underscores how senior and politically valuable Cirimwami had become.