In the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a conflict that has been ongoing for more than 30 years has escalated since the beginning of 2025. The armed group M23, supported by Rwanda and its army, captured the major cities of Goma and Bukavu, facing off against the Congolese government forces. Last week, a drone attack injured at least 25 civilians in Mushaki, a farming town about forty kilometers from Goma, in the M23-controlled area. The victims were taken to the Ndosho hospital in Goma, supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), including a two-year-old girl.
Witnesses described the drone attack as targeting a market, catching residents off guard while going about their daily routines. The use of drones has become increasingly prevalent in the conflict between the Congolese army and the M23 rebels. Both sides have acquired attack drones to target each other’s positions.
Dr. Amadou Soumah Sékou, a surgeon at the Ndosho hospital, treated the victims of the Mushaki attack, noting various injuries like abdominal wounds, thoracic injuries, neck wounds, head injuries, and limb injuries. The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) condemned the recent deadly attacks on civilians in the eastern provinces, including the drone strike on Mushaki.
However, it is challenging to independently verify allegations made by the M23 accusing Kinshasa of conducting deadly airstrikes on civilians. The M23, labeled by UN experts as the main violator of human rights in the region, has silenced dissenting voices in areas under their control. In separate incidents, the spokesperson of the M23, Willy Ngoma, was killed in a drone attack near the Rubaya mine, and a French UNICEF worker was also killed in a drone strike in Goma.
The United States also condemned the attacks but did not attribute responsibility. The situation in the DRC remains complex and volatile, with civilians bearing the brunt of the ongoing conflict.
