Hundreds of Women Raped and Burned to Death in Congo Jailbreak
Hundreds of Women Raped and Burned to Death in Congo Jailbreak
Hundreds of female prisoners were raped and then burned alive during a jailbreak in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the United Nations. The prisoners broke out of the central jail of Muzenze last Monday after M23 rebel group fighters took over the city.
An internal United Nations document estimates that male inmates assaulted between 165 and 167 women prisoners during the initial break-out. The report adds the men set the facility on fire, subsequently killing most of the female prisoners.
Goma, a city of more than a million people in Congo, has been captured by the Rwanda-backed M23 militant group. They have also made a swift advance in eastern Congo.
Goma was plunged into chaos
M23’s advancement into Goma caused the city to plunge into chaos. Missiles flew over residential areas and bodies were seen lying on the street. Online video footage shows people fleeing the prison as smoke covered the building. Others show prisoners freely walking through the Goma streets
The United Nations has been monitoring the situation. So far, it has been reported that 2,900 people have been killed during the fighting. 2,000 bodies have been buried, and the city morgues are still processing the remaining 900.
The M23 rebels initially declared a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds earlier this week. However, this agreement was short-lived as the rebels initiated another attack in eastern Congo on Wednesday, taking control of the town of Nyabibwe.
This is the second-largest city in eastern Congo and the target of the rebels’ most recent attack. It is also 100 km (60 miles) from Bukavu, another significant city in Congo. This proximity has forced Congolese authorities to enlist civilians to defend the city.
Malawi announced it is withdrawing peacekeeping forces from DR Congo
The brutal fighting in Goma after the jailbreak has prompted Malawi to announce it will start preparing to withdraw its peacekeeping forces from Congo. The decision follows the killing of three Malawian soldiers in the fighting that broke out in Goma.
The three men were part of a Southern African cooperation military force led by South Africa. That country has also suffered casualties, as 14 South Africans have been killed during this mission. However, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to keep his forces there.
Mass jailbreak reported at Munzenze prison in Goma, eastern DRC, on Monday morning as M23 rebel group fighters moved into the city.
The prison which holds approximately 3,000 inmates was reportedly set ablaze as fleeing prisoners were seen in the surrounding streets. pic.twitter.com/Vms5v3NdXS
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) January 27, 2025
Goma, currently controlled by M23, is facing the threat of a cholera outbreak. The local crisis is exacerbated by the announcement that “Access to water has been cut for days, corpses have been lying in the streets, and waterborne diseases such as cholera are a real threat.”