ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – The African Union (AU) has strongly condemned a drone strike in the eastern city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that killed civilians, including aid workers, and damaged residential buildings, the organization said Thursday.
In a statement, AU Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf expressed deep concern over reports that the strike in North Kivu province claimed lives, including humanitarian staff, and called the attack a violation of international humanitarian law.
On Wednesday, a drone hit a building housing aid workers in Goma, killing at least three people, including a UNICEF employee. The AU called on all parties involved in the conflict to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could escalate tensions in the region. It also emphasized the importance of protecting civilians and humanitarian personnel in eastern DRC.
The AU said it supports efforts to establish the facts through an independent investigation while respecting ongoing mediation and ceasefire initiatives aimed at peace and stability in the region. “The African Union remains fully committed to working with the DRC government, regional partners, and the international community to achieve a lasting political solution and sustainable peace,” the statement read.
Eastern DRC has long been affected by armed conflict between government forces and rebel groups. In recent months, fighting has intensified, particularly between Congolese forces and the M23 rebel group in North Kivu, including around Goma. The M23 now controls large areas in the east, including major towns such as Goma and Bukavu, which it captured earlier in 2025.
