GOMA — A drone strike in Goma, North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has intensified concerns about security near Rwanda’s western border, as officials in Kigali warn that armed activity in eastern Congo continues to pose a threat.
According to Rwanda’s Deputy Government Spokesperson Maurice Uwera, the attack highlights the ongoing instability close to Rwanda’s territory.
“Today’s drone attack in Goma underscores the threat near Rwanda’s border,” Uwera said. “While Rwanda is pressured to lift defensive measures, the DRC and its coalition, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), meant to be neutralized under the Washington Accords, remain active in eastern DRC.”
Kigali has repeatedly argued that the continued presence of the FDLR and other armed groups near its frontier poses a direct security risk, justifying defensive measures.
Officials aligned with the March 23 Movement (M23), which controls parts of North Kivu, also condemned the strike and blamed authorities in Kinshasa.
Willy Manzi, deputy governor of North Kivu under the M23 administration, accused the Congolese government of acting recklessly.
“Drones just bombed Goma, and yet the blood sucker in Kinshasa is shielded from accountability,” Manzi said in a statement. “This level of recklessness on the part of Kinshasa can’t continue to have such immunity.”
He also criticized what he described as inconsistent pressure from the international community on the parties involved in the conflict.
“The level of hypocrisy from the international community, where Tshisekedi can continue to pound the population while the other side is told to observe a cease-fire,” Manzi said.
According to a preliminary report issued on March 11, 2026, authorities in Goma said the attack resulted in at least three deaths, including a foreign humanitarian worker from an international NGO.
Later statements identified the victim as Carine Buisset, a French national and a prominent member of UNICEF staff, who was killed during the strike
The French government confirmed the death of the humanitarian worker. President Emmanuel Macron expressed condolences to her family and colleagues and called for the protection of humanitarian personnel.
“A French humanitarian from UNICEF has been killed in Goma. To her family, to her loved ones, to her colleagues, I convey the support and emotion of the Nation,” Macron said, adding that humanitarian law and the safety of aid workers must be respected.
Authorities aligned with M23 accused the government of President Félix Tshisekedi of using the ceasefire period to prepare renewed military operations. They said Kinshasa had taken advantage of the pause in hostilities not only for diplomatic engagement but also to prepare for the resumption of military actions, including drone operations near the Rwanda border.
In further statements, M23-linked officials said President Félix Tshisekedi’s actions should face accountability, arguing that drone strikes targeting civilians and humanitarian workers, such as the attack that killed Carine Buisset in Goma, could constitute violations of international humanitarian law.
They alleged that months of airstrikes, destruction of villages and operations involving foreign mercenaries demonstrate what they describe as a pattern of attacks affecting civilian populations.
The Congolese government, has made no comments. It also has previously defended its military operations as necessary security measures against armed groups operating in the region.
The situation in eastern Congo remains volatile as fighting and political tensions continue in North Kivu, with regional and international actors attempting to prevent further escalation around Goma, a strategic city located close to Rwanda’s frontier.