French Aid Worker Among Three Killed in Drone Strikes in Goma
A French national employed by the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has died, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed following reports of drone strikes in the eastern city of Goma.
Two additional individuals were also killed in the attack; however, their identities have not been disclosed.
Eyewitnesses reported that the drones targeted Lake Kivu and a two-storey residential building frequently inhabited by expatriates and aid workers in the rebel-controlled city early on Wednesday morning.
In a post on X, President Macron confirmed the death of Karine Buisset, a UN children's charity Unicef worker, and called for "respect for humanitarian law."
Unicef expressed that it was "devastated and outraged" by her death, describing Buisset as "a dedicated humanitarian who worked tirelessly to support children and families affected by conflict and crisis."
The head of the UN mission in DR Congo condemned the escalation of violence.
"I condemn in the strongest terms the use of weapons, including armed drones that endanger civilian populations and United Nations personnel," said Bruno Lemarquis in a statement on Wednesday.
The M23 rebel group seized control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province near the Rwandan border, early last year.
Since 2021, the group has captured extensive areas of mineral-rich eastern DR Congo, with multiple ceasefires brokered but repeatedly collapsing shortly after.
The DR Congo army, stationed several hundred kilometers from Goma, regularly conducts long-range drone strikes on M23 positions, while security sources report that M23 also deploys explosive drones at the front lines.
Videos circulating on social media on Wednesday showed flames engulfing the building as thick smoke rose into the night sky, with residents scrambling amid the debris.
Images from the scene depicted the building heavily damaged, with the roof partially torn apart, walls marked by shrapnel, and windows blown out.
Residents reported hearing bomb blasts and the buzzing of drones in Goma neighborhoods, causing panic. One resident told the BBC they heard a detonation around 04:00 in the Katindo neighborhood but were initially unaware of the cause.
An aid worker familiar with the residence told AFP news agency that he heard a drone sound followed by a loud explosion that created "a hole in the roof" of the building.
Firefighters, UN personnel, and M23 officials were present at the scene on Wednesday morning.
The private residence is located near the home of former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila, who has been sentenced to death for treason over allegations of supporting the rebels, charges he denies.
Buisset's colleagues described her as a committed humanitarian passionate about child protection programs in the region.
"The humanitarian family mourns a woman of conviction," Unicef in Cameroon posted on X, announcing that UN flags would be flown at half-mast in her honor.
The M23 rebels blamed the government for the attack, labeling it a "terrorist act." Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesperson for the Congo River Alliance (AFC), which includes the M23, described it as a deliberate assault on a densely populated city.
The DR Congo army denied any involvement.
The strikes occur amid the increasing use of drones in DR Congo's conflict, which has displaced millions and involved regional powers.
The UN and Western nations accuse Rwanda of backing the M23, allegations Rwanda denies.
Last month, prominent M23 spokesman Willy Ngoma was killed in a strike near the mining town of Rubaya.
The fighting has persisted despite Rwanda and DR Congo signing a peace deal in early December, facilitated by US President Donald Trump, marking the latest attempt to end the conflict.
Additional reporting by Emery Makumeno in Kinshasa
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