Drone Strike Kills French Aid Worker in Goma, Violating Humanitarian Safe Havens
A drone strike targeted a residential building housing UN humanitarian staff in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on Thursday, killing a French aid worker and two civilians, according to UN and humanitarian sources.
The strike hit the home of a UN staff member in the city, which has been under the control of the Tutsi-led M23 rebel group since its rapid capture in January 2025. The UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, reported that overnight drone attacks also struck several other buildings in residential neighbourhoods. The exact origin of the explosive drones remains unclear, with both the Congolese army and the M23 known to operate such systems in the conflict.
Congolese authorities, via the Ministry of Communication and Media, confirmed an investigation into the incident, noting it occurred in “occupied areas.” The government stated it is monitoring the situation and offered condolences to the families of the victims.
The attack drew swift international condemnation. European Union crisis management commissioner Hadja Lahbib confirmed a drone hit a residential building where aid workers reside. French President Emmanuel Macron identified the deceased as Karine Buisset, a UNICEF humanitarian worker, expressing national sympathy and urging respect for humanitarian law. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said the agency was “devastated and outraged,” stressing that “civilians, including aid workers, must never be a target.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced “outrage,” with his spokesperson emphasizing that “humanitarian personnel must never be a target” under international law.
The incident underscores the extreme risks for aid workers in eastern DRC, where competing drone warfare by national forces and the M23 has increasingly blurred lines between military and civilian spaces. The targeting of a known humanitarian residence represents a severe breach of protocols designed to protect neutral aid operations. Investigations by Congolese authorities and the UN are ongoing, with international calls mounting for accountability and an immediate cessation of strikes in populated areas.
Additional reporting by AFP.
