Ladd Serwat, ACLED’s Africa Senior Analyst, said:“Following the drone strike in Goma that killed a French humanitarian worker, the exact drone or missile type and launch point remain unclear. However, several indicators point to likely involvement by the Congolese armed forces (FARDC). First, FARDC accounts for the vast majority of recorded air- and drone strikes in eastern DRC since 2025. ACLED has documented more than 60 such strikes by the Congolese military in 2026 alone, after surging in the last quarter of 2025. Recent activity also supports this pattern: FARDC conducted strikes near Mushaki, west of Goma, on 7 March, while clashes between M23 and Wazalendo fighters were reported in the Virunga area north of the city around the same time.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 13, 2026 13:27 UTC