What's happening:
Karine Buisset, a French UNICEF aid worker, was killed in an overnight drone strike on a residential building in Goma's Himbi neighbourhood, an area controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia. Two civilians also died in the attack on the house where Buisset was staying, according to Africanews. The origin of the strikes remains unclear, though M23 blamed Kinshasa for conducting the attack.
Why it matters:
The killing occurred despite a December peace deal brokered at U.S. President Trump's urging — the latest attempt to end the conflict that has seen M23 seize large swathes of mineral-rich eastern DRC since 2021. The attack on international humanitarian workers in Himbi, where many expatriate aid organizations are based, could complicate humanitarian access in a region already facing a severe crisis. Clashes between M23 and the Congolese army have continued despite the peace agreement.
What's next:
French President Emmanuel Macron called for "respect for humanitarian law" following the incident, while UNICEF expressed outrage over the targeting of aid workers. The attack highlights the fragility of the recent peace deal and ongoing risks to humanitarian operations in M23-controlled areas of eastern DRC.
Source: Africanews
