GOMA, Democratic Republic of the Congo — At least three people, including a staff member of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), were killed after a drone strike hit a residential neighborhood in the rebel-held city of Goma early Wednesday morning.
According to local residents, the strike occurred at around 4:00 a.m. in the upscale Himbi district, an area believed to host residences and facilities associated with senior leaders of the March 23 Movement/Alliance Fleuve Congo (M23/AFC) rebel group. Figures reportedly linked to the area include rebel political leader Bertrand Bisimwa, former electoral chief Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo, and former Congolese President Joseph Kabila Kabange.
The attack, reportedly carried out by forces aligned with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, targeted a residential compound belonging to a Belgian businessman who also operates as a Toyota agent. The neighborhood lies in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, which has been under M23 control since the group captured the city during a major offensive in January 2025.
Videos circulating on social media showed flames engulfing a multi-story building while thick smoke rose into the sky as residents fled the area amid debris and destruction. Reports indicate that one drone fell harmlessly into nearby Lake Kivu, while another struck a residential complex housing international aid workers.
Among those killed was Karine Buisset, a French national working with UNICEF on child protection programs in eastern Congo. Colleagues described her as a dedicated humanitarian committed to supporting vulnerable children affected by the conflict.
Another victim was reported to be a staff member of the United Nations, though authorities had not yet confirmed the person’s nationality at the time of reporting. A third fatality was also recorded but had not been officially identified.
The strike also caused significant damage to nearby properties, including areas close to a residence believed to belong to Olive Lembe Kabila, the wife of former Congolese President Joseph Kabila.
The AFC-M23 movement condemned the attack, describing it as a “terrorist act” and accusing the government of President Félix Tshisekedi of undermining fragile ceasefire efforts. In a statement posted online, M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka alleged that the strike may have been aimed at senior rebel figures including Corneille Nangaa, Bertrand Bisimwa, or military commander Sultani Makenga.
The incident reflects the growing use of drone warfare in eastern Congo, where both government forces and rebel groups increasingly deploy unmanned aerial vehicles in a conflict that has displaced millions and drawn in regional actors. Last month, government drones reportedly killed Willy Ngoma, a prominent M23 spokesperson, near the mining town of Rubaya, prompting retaliatory attacks and further straining a fragile ceasefire mediated by Qatar.
The fall of Goma to M23 forces in January 2025 marked a major turning point in the conflict after a rapid offensive overwhelmed Congolese government troops, local militias, United Nations peacekeepers, and regional forces deployed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Government forces are currently regrouping roughly 20 kilometers outside the city, raising fears of further clashes.
International humanitarian organizations have expressed concern about the apparent targeting of civilian areas, warning that continued escalation could further endanger aid workers and civilians already caught in one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts.
For residents of Goma, the early-morning explosions served as a stark reminder of the fragile security situation in the region, with many fearing the conflict could escalate once again.
