UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was outraged over the drone-attack killing of a UN Children's Fund (Unicef) staffer in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.

"Our colleague Karine Buisset was killed in a drone strike on a building that was housing aid workers," said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for Guterres.

"Karine was a dedicated humanitarian who worked tirelessly to support children and families impacted by conflict and crisis."

The spokesperson said Buisset is the second humanitarian worker killed in the DRC this year, citing the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Since January, at least 92 incidents impacting humanitarian workers have been reported across the country.

Parties to the DRC conflict must ensure the protection of civilians and those providing life-saving assistance, Dujarric said.

"Humanitarian personnel must never be a target. This is international law. It is not up for debate, nor is up for negotiation. It must be respected."

He said the mission also called on all parties to immediately cease hostilities, in accordance with their commitment to respect the ceasefire, to prioritise the path toward the political solution and to capitalise on the gains recently achieved within the framework of peace efforts.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on X that "a French Unicef humanitarian worker has been killed in Goma. I extend the nation's support and sympathy to her family, loved ones and colleagues".

He urged "respect for humanitarian law and for the personnel who are on the ground and committed to saving lives".

Since taking up arms again in 2021, the Rwanda-backed M23 militia has seized swathes of the mineral-rich Congolese east, unleashing a fresh spiral of violence in a region long plagued by fighting.

Despite Rwanda and the DRC signing a peace deal at US President Donald Trump's urging in early December, in the latest attempt to end the conflict, clashes between the M23 and Congolese army have continued.

Humanitarian sources reported that several buildings had been targeted in overnight drone strikes, which UN peacekeeping force MONUSCO said also killed two civilians.

The strikes' origin remained unclear.

The Congolese army, stationed some several hundred kilometres from Goma, regularly launches long-range drone strikes on the M23's positions in the east.

According to security sources, the M23 likewise makes use of explosive drones at the front. (Xinhua/AFP)



Edited by Cecil Wong