UN Security Council to Hold Closed-Door Meeting After Deadly Drone Attack in Goma

Kinshasa, DRC March 16, 2026 - The UN Security Council will hold closed-door consultations on Tuesday to discuss the escalating conflict in eastern DRC, following a deadly drone attack in Goma on March 11, which killed a UNICEF staff member. The meeting was requested by France. Several Council members are expected to condemn the attack and stress the need to protect civilians and humanitarian workers. MONUSCO, the UN mission in the DRC, has warned that attacks on UN personnel may constitute war crimes under the Rome Statute. The strike was also condemned by Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and by the European Union, both calling for an impartial investigation. The Congolese government announced its own investigation on March 13. The attack coincides with an escalation of drone use in the east, where the FARDC is conducting an offensive against the March 23 Movement (M23). Discussions at the Council are expected to focus on establishing a permanent ceasefire, in line with Security Council resolution 2808, adopted December 19, 2025, which renewed MONUSCO’s mandate. The UN Secretary-General has recommended a “gradual, adaptable, and conditional” approach to supporting the ceasefire, including deploying light infantry battalions, a rapid deployment unit, and an advanced medical evacuation team, with 1,500-2,500 additional troops potentially needed in North and South Kivu. Recent tensions were compounded by US sanctions on Rwandan military officials and the Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF) on March 2. Kinshasa welcomed the sanctions, while Kigali denounced them as unilateral.