Drone Strikes in Goma Kill Several, Cause Widespread Damage

Overnight drone strikes in Goma, eastern DRC, killed several people and damaged multiple buildings. The city, controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia, has seen increased violence since the group resumed fighting in 2021. The M23 alleges the strikes were carried out by the Congolese army, though the government has not confirmed this. Firefighters, UN staff, and M23 officials responded to the scene, which included a house gutted by the blast.

Overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, several people were killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Goma due to drone strikes, according to sources who spoke to AFP. The city is currently under the control of the Rwanda-backed M23 militia, which has been active in the region since 2021. Since resuming armed operations, the M23 has taken control of large parts of the mineral-rich eastern DRC, intensifying violence in a region already plagued by years of conflict.
Witnesses reported hearing bomb blasts and the buzzing of drones across multiple residential neighborhoods in Goma, a major provincial capital near the border with Rwanda. The city was previously seized by the M23 in a lightning offensive in 2025. One of the drone strikes reportedly hit the residence of a UNICEF staff member, according to an Africanews correspondent.
The M23 and the African Forces of Congo (AFC) allege that the drone was launched by the Congolese army, though the government has not commented on the accusations. While official casualty figures are not yet confirmed, humanitarian sources described considerable damage, including several buildings being targeted and multiple fatalities by Wednesday morning. An AFP reporter at the scene observed that one house was severely gutted, partially burnt, and had its roof destroyed, with shrapnel damaging neighboring structures and blowing out windows.
An aid worker near the affected house told AFP that he heard the sound of a drone followed by a loud explosion that created a hole in the roof of the building. Firefighters, United Nations staff, and M23 officials were present at the site on Wednesday morning to assist with the aftermath and assess the damage. The incident highlights the ongoing insecurity and humanitarian challenges in eastern Congo, where armed groups continue to operate with significant influence.