French humanitarian worker killed in explosion in eastern DR Congo

The victim was identified as Carine Buisset, a UNICEF employee in Congo.

In a post on the US social media company X, Macron expressed condolences to her family, loved ones and colleagues.

“I call for respect for humanitarian law and for the personnel who are on the ground and who are committed to saving lives,” he said.

The explosion reportedly hit a large two-story residential house in an area often occupied by expatriates and aid workers.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell expressed fury about the killing on X.

"All of us at UNICEF are devastated and outraged by the killing of our colleague Karine Buisset in a reported drone attack in Goma, DRC," she said.

"Civilians, including aid workers, must never be targeted," Russell wote, conveying condolences to Buisset's family, loved ones and colleagues at UNICEF.

M23 rebel spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said Goma was struck by a drone in the morning.

Images on social media from the scene showed a heavily damaged building with part of the roof torn off and walls marked by shrapnel.

Separately, Rwanda government deputy spokesperson Jean Maurice Uwera said in a post on X that the “drone attack in Goma underscores the threat near Rwanda’s border.”

Despite a US-brokered accord and a ceasefire proposal by Angola last month, violence has escalated in recent days between Congolese forces and M23 rebels, causing mass displacement.

Congo, the United Nations and Western countries accuse Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels -- an allegation Kigali denies.

On Tuesday, the Congolese military said it shot down two drones belonging to the Rwanda Defense Force and “their allies” after they allegedly violated Congolese airspace in the Minembwe area in eastern Congo.

The M23 controls significant territory, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu, which it seized earlier in 2025.