A French humanitarian worker employed by the United Nations Children’s Fund was killed early Wednesday after a combat drone struck a residential building in the city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, marking a significant escalation in a conflict that has already displaced millions across the region.
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the victim’s identity in a message posted on the social media platform X, identifying her as Karine Buisset, a French national working for the United Nations Children’s Fund. Macron condemned the killing and called for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
According to local authorities and reports from the scene, a combat drone struck a residential building in central Goma during the early hours of Wednesday. The residence is located near the home of former Congolese president Joseph Kabila.
Video footage from the scene shows extensive structural damage including a partially collapsed roof and visible fire damage. Initial reports suggest that as many as three people may have been killed in the strike although only one body has been independently verified so far.
The city of Goma has been under the control of the March 23 Movement rebel group since January of the previous year following a major offensive in eastern Congo.
Responsibility for the drone strike remains disputed.
The spokesperson for the March 23 Movement Lawrence Kanyuka accused the Congolese government and its armed forces of carrying out what he described as a terrorist act targeting international humanitarian personnel.
The government in Kinshasa has not issued an official statement regarding the strike. However Congolese military officials recently reported downing two Rwandan drones in South Kivu alleging that the aircraft violated the regional ceasefire arrangement known as the Luanda process.
Within the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo technical experts have expressed uncertainty about the drone’s origin. Some analysts note that the operational range and logistics required for such a strike raise questions about where the drone may have been launched.
While speculation has circulated about a possible launch from nearby territory or a potential deception operation officials stress that these assessments remain preliminary and unverified pending a formal investigation.
The death of the humanitarian worker highlights growing concerns about the safety of aid personnel operating in eastern Congo.
Humanitarian agencies say that at least twelve aid workers have been killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the beginning of the year underscoring the deteriorating security environment in the region.
The current crisis intensified after a drone strike in February killed March 23 Movement spokesperson Willy Ngoma an incident that contributed to the collapse of fragile ceasefire efforts mediated by Angola and Kenya.
Eastern Congo is now facing one of the world’s largest displacement crises.
Humanitarian organizations estimate that more than seven million people are currently displaced across the country as fighting continues between government forces rebel groups and various militias.
Aid agencies warn that continued escalation particularly the use of drones and other advanced weapon systems in densely populated urban areas could further endanger civilians and humanitarian operations in the region.
An investigation into the origin of the drone strike is expected to involve Congolese authorities and international partners with potential attention from the United Nations Security Council in the coming days.
