Amidst M23 Unrest, Boxing Champion Kibomango Was Assassinated in Goma

In Goma, the town is grieving the loss of Kibomango, a former boxing champion who was among the 3,000 people killed by the M23 rebels. Anger and grief coexist in the village. A devastated community is still dealing with the memory of his tragic death. He was struck by a stray bullet that killed him, and there were multiple gunshots. Concurrently, I received a call informing me of my brother’s passing. Given the seriousness of the situation, Kibomango’s brother Mashara Espoir stated, “Despite the gunfire, I had to leave my house to understand the reason for his death, but we never learnt.”

“The champion, our brother, has passed away. We are unsure of how we will locate another champion like him. Rebuilding the club and finding someone to succeed him will take a lot of time,” Tubasele Makambo stated.

Having seen the atrocities of war personally, Kibomango was a ray of hope for many kids in Goma. But rather than giving in to violence, he made the decision to fight for a better future by inspiring change with his abilities and influence.

“We demand that this conflict be stopped by the leaders. We are in too much pain; a lot of people are widowed and many are left orphaned. We are really hurt by that, and it’s very serious,” Marcellin Lufugula added.

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