French UNICEF Worker Killed in Rebel — Controlled Goma, DR Congo. Goma, DR Congo — 2026-03-11 Lead Paragraph A French national working for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was killed in the eastern Congolese city of Goma, according to French President Emmanuel Macron.
The incident occurred amidst ongoing conflict involving the Rwanda — backed M23 rebels who control the city.
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The attack took place in the early hours of Wednesday, when a drone strike reportedly hit a residential building in the center of Goma. M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka attributed the strike to the Congolese government, claiming it targeted the United Nations and the European Union.
He described the action as an “intolerable provocation targeting a densely populated urban area and deliberately endangering thousands of innocent civilians.”
Local sources confirmed the destruction of the building and the presence of smoke, while an aid worker close to the scene reported hearing the sound of a drone followed by a loud explosion that blew a hole in the roof of the building. French President Macron called for respect for humanitarian law and the protection of personnel committed to saving lives.
The incident follows a recent report by the Congolese army, known as FARDC, which claimed to have shot down two drones belonging to Rwandan forces and their allies after they entered Congolese airspace.
The FARDC accused the drones of violating the Washington Accord and vowed to defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The situation in Goma remains tense, with the M23 rebels having seized control of the city and other strategic areas in the mineral-rich eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The rebels have been accused of backing from Rwanda, a claim that Kigali denies. Ending.
The United Nations has yet to comment on the incident, and further details are expected to emerge.
The situation in Goma continues to be a matter of concern, with the ongoing conflict threatening the safety of humanitarian workers and civilians alike.
