Aid worker killed in rebel-held city of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo

French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed that a French aid worker with UNICEF was killed in Goma, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province. Macron stated this on X, calling for respect for humanitarian law and acknowledging the personnel who are committed to saving lives.

Goma is a strategic city that has been under control of M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, since January 2025. The region has experienced ongoing violence since M23 resumed its armed activities in 2021. According to M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, a drone attack occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, targeting a residential building in the city center. Karine Buisset, a French national and UNICEF employee, was reportedly present at the time of the incident.

Video footage shared online verified by Al Jazeera shows damage to a house with part of its roof destroyed and smoke emerging from one side. Sources on the ground have confirmed the structural damage. An aid worker close to the affected building reported hearing the sound of a drone followed by an explosion that damaged the roof.

M23 has blamed the Congolese government for the attack, claiming it was carried out using a “combat drone”. The Congolese government has not commented on the allegations. This incident comes after the DRC’s army shot down two drones belonging to Rwandan forces and their allies in neighboring South Kivu province.

The US has sanctioned Rwanda’s military and senior officers over alleged support for M23, which Rwanda denies.

Source: Al Jazeera