President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the death of a French humanitarian worker for UNICEF in an airstrike in the city of Goma. The region is the scene of bloody fighting between government forces and rebels from the M23 movement.

Death of a UNICEF worker

A French citizen working for the UN was killed during an airstrike in the city of Goma in eastern DRC.

Escalation of conflict in Goma

The city, controlled by M23 rebels, has become a target of airstrikes, deepening the humanitarian crisis.

Attacker not identified

It has not yet been established which side of the conflict carried out the airstrike on targets in the city.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday the death of a French humanitarian worker for UNICEF in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The tragic incident occurred in the city of Goma, located in the eastern part of the country, which was targeted in an airstrike. According to an official statement from the Élysée Palace, the woman was killed while performing her duties in a region engulfed in fighting. This information was confirmed by leading French media, including the newspaper Le Monde and the portal Franceinfo, citing a direct statement from the head of state. The attack took place in a high-risk zone where international organizations are conducting operations to support the civilian population.

The city of Goma, where the airstrike occurred, is currently under the control of the rebel militia M23. News agencies, including Adnkronos and Al Jazeera, report that the airstrike targeting this area caused numerous fatalities among people present at the site. It has not yet been officially specified which side of the conflict was responsible for carrying out the airstrike on positions held by the rebels. The humanitarian situation in the region remains critical, and the presence of rebel forces in Goma significantly hampers the delivery of medical and food aid.

The eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been the arena of brutal fighting between numerous armed groups and government forces for decades. This conflict, rooted in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, has led to one of the world's most severe and prolonged humanitarian crises. The city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, has repeatedly changed hands, serving as a key logistical and economic hub over which the most intense battles are fought.

The identity of the killed worker was not made public in the first hours after the incident, and UNICEF has not yet published detailed data regarding her length of service or the exact circumstances in which she found herself in the strike zone. The death of the French citizen prompted an immediate reaction from the highest state authorities in Paris, who emphasize the extreme risk faced by aid mission workers in the DRC. This event is part of a series of tragic incidents targeting international personnel operating in North Kivu province. „Une humanitaire française de l'Unicef a été tuée en République démocratique du Congo” (A French humanitarian worker for UNICEF was killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) — Emmanuel Macron via Le Monde

The airstrike on Goma is one of the most serious incidents in this region in March 2026. According to media reports, the total number of civilian casualties from the attack could be significant, increasing the chaos in the city controlled by rebels. Aid organizations operating on the ground warn of further escalation of violence and an almost complete cutoff of access to those affected due to infrastructure destruction. The death of the French volunteer calls into question the continued functioning of humanitarian corridors in this part of Central Africa.

Mentioned People

  • Emmanuel Macron — President of France, who announced the death of a citizen of his country.