PARIS — The French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) announced on Friday, March 13, 2026, the opening of a war crimes investigation following the death of a French humanitarian worker in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Karine Buisset, a 54-year-old employee of UNICEF, was killed early Wednesday when an explosive device—identified by witnesses and UN officials as a drone strike—struck the residence she was occupying in Goma. Two other civilians also lost their lives in the attack.
Investigation into “Crime of War”
The French investigation, classified as a “flagrante delicto” inquiry against persons unknown, specifically cites “murder constituting a war crime.”
The case has been handed over to the Central Office for the Fight Against Crimes Against Humanity (OCLCH) of the National Gendarmerie. Investigators are tasked with:
- Clarifying the exact circumstances of the strike.
- Determining the origin of the explosive device.
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Keeping the victim’s family informed of legal progress.
According to the PNAT, the incident is directly linked to the ongoing armed conflict between Congolese government forces and the M23/AFC rebel movement.
Goma, a strategic city in eastern DRC, has been under the control of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) and the M23 group since January 2025. The region has been ravaged by three decades of conflict over resources and territory.
| Victim | Organization | Location | Cause of Death |
| Karine Buisset (54) | UNICEF | Goma, DRC | Drone strike on residence |
“UNICEF is deeply shocked and outraged by the death of Karine Buisset, who was killed during a drone attack on a building housing humanitarian workers,” the organization stated in a press release.
Trading Blame
While the origin of the strike remains officially unconfirmed, the warring parties have traded accusations:
- M23/AFC: A spokesperson for the rebel group, which has controlled vast swaths of eastern DRC since 2021 with alleged support from Rwanda, accused the DRC national army of carrying out the strike.
- DRC Government: Kinshasa, which is no longer represented in Goma due to the rebel occupation, expressed “profound sadness.” The government denied any involvement, stating it would not undertake actions that contradict its values, and announced its own inquiry into the “origin of the explosions.”
The UN Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) confirmed the strike took place at dawn on Wednesday but has stopped short of naming a responsible party.
