The top commander of the FDLR militia in DR Congo has reportedly died after sustaining injuries in a battle with the M23 rebels on March 4 and 5 in North Kivu province.

Reports of the death of ‘Gen’ Gaston Iyamuremye, who is known as Victor Byiringiro, circulated on social media on the morning of Sunday, March 10.

ALSO READ: DR Congo: M23 rebels capture FDLR stronghold

It had been reported that he was injured during fighting with M23 rebels in Nyanzale, a small town in Rutshuru territory known to be the key stronghold of the FDLR, a UN-sanctioned terrorist militia formed by remnants of the perpetrators of 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

If Byiringiro’s death is confirmed, it would be another severe blow dealt to the FDLR following the killing of ‘Col’ Protogene Ruvugayimikore in early December 2023.

Ruvugayimikore, who served as FDLR’s special forces commander, died in a Goma hospital after sustaining injuries during combat with M23.

After the M23’s capture of Nyanzale, which links areas of Lubero, Butembo and Walikare, fighting is reported to be continuing.

ALSO READ: Who is Ruvugayimikore, the FDLR commander killed by M23?

The FDLR was founded in May 2000 with the help of the Congolese political and military authorities - a fact admitted by one of its founders and former vice president, Straton Musoni, who now lives in Rwanda.

FDLR is part of a Congolese government-led coalition that includes Burundian forces, troops from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), fighting M23 rebels.

The UN-sanctioned militia poses a threat to Rwanda and is accused of spreading genocide ideology against Congolese Tutsi communities.

ALSO READ: DR Congo army announces ‘divorce’ with FDLR

In an interesting twist of events, and following mounting pressure, the Congolese army in November 2023 ordered that all its soldiers to end any contact with the FDLR. However, the FDLR remained integrated into the Congolese armed forces, according to the Rwandan government.

ALSO READ: FDLR integration into DR Congo army must be addressed – Kagame

Rwanda has, for years, asked the Congolese government to end its collaboration with the genocidal militia, to no avail, despite its being one of the root causes of the conflict in eastern DR Congo.

The FDLR not only threatens DR Congo’s security but has launched attacks on Rwanda for more than two decades.

Eastern DR Congo has been volatile for nearly 30 years and remains home to more than 130 armed groups. Multiple interventions have failed to end decades of violence. The New Times