Drone Attack in Goma Kills Three as Tensions Persist in Eastern DRC
At least three people were killed on Wednesday after a drone strike hit the eastern city of Goma, according to the AFC/M23 rebel movement that controls the city.
In a series of posts on X, AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said the strike targeted a densely populated area of the city, the capital of North Kivu province. He said a preliminary assessment indicated that the victims included a French national who was reportedly working with UNICEF.
“This act of aggression constitutes an intolerable provocation targeting a densely populated urban area and deliberately endangering thousands of innocent civilians,” Kanyuka said.
AFC/M23 officials attributed the strike to the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Congolese government had not immediately commented on the incident at the time of reporting.
AFC/M23 deputy coordinator Bertrand Bisimwa said the strike was carried out by drones belonging to the government in Kinshasa, describing the attack as a violation of the ceasefire.
“Currently, the city of Goma is being attacked by drones belonging to the Kinshasa regime,” Bisimwa wrote, adding that the incident reflects what he called “a logic of permanent violation of the ceasefire.”
The reported strike comes amid continued tensions in eastern DRC, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to reduce hostilities.
AFC/M23 fighters seised control of Goma in late January 2025 and later expanded their presence to Bukavu in South Kivu as well as surrounding areas. The group has said it will not withdraw from territories it considers “liberated.”
Rebel officials have also accused the Congolese government coalition of carrying out previous drone and artillery attacks that they say affected civilian populations, including members of the Banyamulenge community in Minembwe.
According to the rebels, the coalition supporting government forces includes Burundian troops, foreign mercenaries, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) militia, and local armed groups known as Wazalendo.
Earlier this year, representatives of the Congolese government and the rebels agreed in Doha to operationalise a ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism aimed at easing tensions. However, both sides have continued to accuse each other of violating the truce.
