At least three people died when a drone struck a residential area of the rebel-controlled city early Wednesday morning.
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A French humanitarian worker for UNICEF was among three people killed in a drone attack on Goma early Wednesday morning, according to M23 rebel group officials. The attack occurred around 4am in a residential neighborhood of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the death of the French aid worker.
Goma has been under M23 rebel control since January 2025, marking a significant shift in the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. The city serves as a major humanitarian hub in the region, housing numerous international aid organizations and displaced populations. The attack highlights the deteriorating security situation for aid workers in the area.
The M23 rebel group blamed the drone strike on the DRC government forces, though this has not been independently verified. No immediate casualty figures beyond the three confirmed deaths have been released. The identity of the other two victims has not been disclosed by authorities.
The killing of international humanitarian workers threatens to further complicate aid operations in a region already facing a severe humanitarian crisis. The attack may prompt evacuation of international staff and reduction of aid programs serving vulnerable populations. French diplomatic responses and potential security measures for remaining aid workers are expected to follow.