The city of Goma, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, awoke in shock on Wednesday after a drone strike around 4:00 a.m. The explosion, heard in several parts of the city, sparked panic among residents still asleep. The armed group AFC-M23, which currently controls the city, claims the attack targeted a residence occupied by United Nations personnel. According to its leaders, the strike resulted in at least one death.
In a statement released a few hours after the incident, the movement's spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, directly accused the Kinshasa government of being behind the attack. According to him, this episode was part of a series of military actions which, according to the rebel group, were targeting areas inhabited by civilians.
“This incident is what we say every day. We have denounced it repeatedly: Tshisekedi and his regime are attacking civilian populations beyond the front lines. He has violated the ceasefire and imposed a war on us that targets civilians. Today, we see it clearly: here, civilians were sleeping in their homes and at 4 a.m., he threw a bomb,” said Lawrence Kanyuka.
At the scene of the explosion, the damage is considerable. The targeted residence was largely destroyed by the impact. The explosion caused a fire that quickly spread to part of the building before being brought under control by firefighters.
Around the house that was hit, several other homes also suffered damage from the blast. Windows were shattered, walls cracked, and debris was scattered into the street.
Shortly after the attack, United Nations peacekeepers were deployed to the area to secure the zone and assess the situation.
In the neighborhood, residents describe a scene of panic. Awakened in the middle of the night by the explosion, some initially thought it was an earthquake or a widespread bombing.
Prince Akilimali, a resident of the neighborhood, describes a night marked by fear.
"We were too scared. Some of us hid in the house, others under the beds. That's how it happened," he says.
Other witnesses described the violence of the explosion and the ensuing confusion. Isaac Baleke stated that he heard several explosions before losing consciousness from the shock.
"It was around 4:10 a.m. when I heard the first bomb fall. I didn't know where it fell. When the second one fell, I lost consciousness on the spot," he explains.
At this stage, the exact circumstances of this attack remain unclear. The authorities in Kinshasa have not yet officially commented on the accusations made by the AFC-M23.
This incident comes amid high military tensions in eastern DRC, where clashes between government forces and armed groups continue to fuel insecurity and anxiety among civilian populations.
While awaiting possible clarifications, residents of the affected area are trying to catch their breath after a night of fear, while the material damage serves as a reminder of the fragile security situation in this region already tested by years of conflict.
