Leader of Alliance Fleuve Congo, Corneille Nangaa and M23 President Bertrand Bisimwa arrive to participate in a cleanup exercise of the city of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Feb. 1. A drone strike on a residential neighborhood in the city killed three people, including a French aid worker, on Wednesday. File Photo by Stringer/EPA
A drone strike in the city of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, killed three people, including a United Nations aid worker from France Wednesday.
The strike occurred in a residential neighborhood at about 4 a.m. local time. The drone hit a two-story residential building occupied by aid workers and expatriates.
Karine Buisset, a French national working for Unicef, was among those killed. The other two victims have not been identified.
Unicef said in a statement that Buisett was “a dedicated humanitarian who worked tirelessly to support children and families affected by conflict and crisis.”
“To her family, loved ones and colleagues, I extend the nation’s support and condolences,” French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X, translated to English. “I call for respect for humanitarian law and for the personnel who are on the ground and who are committed to saving lives.”
Goma is the capital city of the North Kivu province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It has been under the control of M23 rebels since early last year.
Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesperson for the Congo River Alliance, a group of rebels that includes M23, alleged that the Congolese government was responsible for the attack.
“A drone attack is currently being carried out against the city of Goma by the terrorist regime of Kinshasa, well beyond the frontlines, ” Kanyuka said in a social media post. “This act of aggression constitutes an intolerable provocation targeting a densely populated urban area and deliberately endangering thousands of innocent civilians.
Kinshasa is the capital of Congo.
M23 is one of more than 100 groups supported by the Rwandan Defense Force in conflict against the Congolese army. The United States imposed sanctions on the Rwandan military last week for fighting alongside M23.
Historic March moments through the years
Founder of the Women’s Tennis Association and tennis great Billie Jean King (C) smiles with representatives after speaking during an annual Women’s History Month event in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX in Statuary Hall at the U.S .Capitol in Washington on March 9, 2022. Women’s History Month is celebrated every March. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
