A series of drone explosions struck downtown Goma on Wednesday, killing at least one person, a United Nations aid worker, and heightening tensions in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The blasts, attributed to drones, hit areas near Lake Kivu and a private residence located about 50 metres from the home of former Congolese president Joseph Kabila.
The M23 rebel group blamed the Congolese government for the attack, although authorities had not immediately responded to requests for comment. M23 said three people were killed, but local residents reported seeing only one body.
The victim was identified as Karine Buisset, a French national working for UNICEF. She was inside the residence when the explosion occurred.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell confirmed the death in a message posted on X, describing the killing as devastating. She stressed that civilians, including humanitarian workers, must never be targeted.
French President Emmanuel Macron also expressed condolences to the victim’s family and called for respect for humanitarian law and protection of aid personnel working to save lives.
Fighting in eastern Congo has intensified since January 2025, when clashes resumed between Congolese government forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who captured several strategic towns in rapid offensives. In February, another drone strike killed a senior rebel spokesperson involved in the group’s operations.
The conflict has persisted despite a ceasefire brokered by the United States and Qatar. The prolonged violence has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, with more than seven million people displaced across the region.