On January 3, 2026, UN peacekeepers from MONUSCO raised the alarm after reports of a drone strike in Masisi Centre, North Kivu Province, eastern DR Congo. 😟
In a post on X, MONUSCO condemned all attacks that hit civilians or civilian infrastructure, and called for an independent verification of the incident.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) says that at least 42 people – women and children among them – were admitted to Masisi General Referral Hospital after an airstrike late Friday. Two patients later died from shrapnel injuries and trauma.
Masisi is one of the conflict hotspots in eastern DR Congo, where fighting has surged since late 2021. Government forces and the M23 rebel group – accused by Kinshasa of Rwandan support – have been locked in clashes.
Nearby in South Kivu Province, M23 fighters and pro-government Wazalendo militias also clashed this weekend near Uvira, a strategic town briefly seized by M23 in December 2022.
MONUSCO urged all parties to respect the ceasefire, abide by international humanitarian law (rules designed to protect civilians), and uphold peace agreements born from ongoing diplomatic talks. 🤝
For young readers tracking global trends, this incident highlights how drone tech is reshaping modern conflicts – and why independent verification and human-rights safeguards matter now more than ever.
Reference(s):
UN raises alarm over reported drone strike in eastern DR Congo
cgtn.com
