Over 150 female inmates were sexually assaulted and perished in a fire during a prison break in Goma, a city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo last week, the United Nations reported.
The tragic event occurred when male prisoners, some of whom were killed by prison guards, ignited a blaze at Munzenze prison while attempting to flee.
“There was a major prison breakout of 4,000 escaped prisoners. A few hundred women were also in that prison.
“They were all raped and then they set fire to the women’s wing. They all died afterwards,” The deputy head of the UN peacekeeping force based in Goma, Vivian van de Perre, said.
A spokesperson for the United Nations, Seif Magango, confirmed that 165 female prisoners were attacked by the male inmates, and the majority succumbed to the flames.
The large-scale escape happened on January 27, following ongoing confrontations between M23 rebel forces and Congolese military troops over control of Goma.
Reports suggest that more than 4,000 detainees fled the facility, leaving it completely abandoned and destroyed. While many of the male prisoners managed to escape, the women’s section was intentionally set on fire by the attackers.
UN peacekeepers and local authorities have faced obstacles in conducting a full investigation due to restrictions imposed by the M23 rebels, preventing the identification of those responsible. However, between 9 and 13 female survivors managed to escape the inferno after enduring brutal assaults.
This incident adds to a long history of sexual violence related to conflict in the region.
The UN has previously warned that sexual violence is being used as a tool of war by armed factions in eastern DRC.
In response to the atrocities, the DRC government strongly condemned the violence, describing it as an “inhuman crime.”
The situation in Goma remains precarious, with M23 forces currently in control of the city.
While they have declared a unilateral ceasefire, there are still concerns that the conflict could intensify, especially with reports of reinforcements heading toward Bukavu.
The international community continues to urge more pressure on Rwanda, which is accused of backing the M23 rebel group, to restore peace and end the violence in the region.
