In an official press statement issued on February 2, 2025, FARDC confirmed that Colonel Rugabisha died in combat on Saturday, February 1, near Mukwiza in Kalehe territory, South Kivu.
The colonel was leading his troops in a fierce battle on the Southern Front, courageously repelling enemy forces from Nyabibwe to the outskirts of Minova before succumbing to his injuries.
'The Congolese nation will forever be grateful to this worthy son of the country who shone through his feats of arms and consistently defended his homeland against Rwandan aggressions and rebellions maintained by Rwanda within our borders,' the statement read, signed by Major General Sylvain Ekenge Bomusa Efomi, spokesperson for the FARDC General Staff.
His death comes amid escalating tensions in South Kivu, where FARDC forces are engaged in relentless battles against M23 rebels. The region has been the epicenter of violent clashes in recent months, as M23 forces advance toward strategic towns.
The colonel's death follows the demise of Pacifique Ntawunguka (Omega), who was the leader of the military division of the FDLR known as FOCA (Les Forces Combattantes Abacunguzi), and who also fought alongside the FARDC forces.
After losing many soldiers on the battlefield, the FARDC withdrew from the city of Goma on January 26, 2025, along with other areas in North Kivu. Fighting continued in South Kivu with the United Nations recently announcing a critical phase of the conflict, where M23 rebels are advancing close to Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu.
Reports indicate that rebel forces are now within 20-25 kilometers of the city, raising fears of a potential fall that could further destabilize the region.
The M23 leadership has maintained that they will continue fighting until they have captured Kinshasa. Meanwhile, the Congolese government has vowed to reclaim all the areas that the group has taken over.
Sam K Nkurunziza
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/top-drc-commander-killed-as-m23-advance-to-bukavu
