More than 100 women were brutally raped and burned alive during a jailbreak in Goma, DR Congo, according to a UN report seen by the BBC. The horrific incident occurred last Monday when fighters from the M23 rebel group overran the city, triggering chaos and violence.
During the prison break at Munzenze prison, between 165 and 167 women were reportedly assaulted by male inmates before being set on fire. The UN has stated that most of the victims perished in the flames, although these reports remain unverified by independent sources.
Goma, a city with over a million residents, fell swiftly under M23 control following a rapid rebel advance. Witnesses described scenes of devastation, with bodies strewn across the streets and missiles striking residential areas. Video footage of the jailbreak showed prisoners fleeing the burning facility amid heavy gunfire. Another clip captured individuals, believed to be escaped inmates, marching through the streets.
Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis
The UN estimates that at least 2,900 people were killed in the recent fighting, with 2,000 buried and another 900 bodies still in morgues. Although M23 rebels announced a temporary ceasefire for humanitarian reasons, reports indicate they resumed attacks just days later, seizing the strategic mining town of Nyabibwe.
Nyabibwe lies roughly 100 km (60 miles) from Bukavu, eastern DR Congo’s second-largest city, which is now under threat. In response, Congolese authorities have mobilized hundreds of civilian volunteers to bolster defenses.
Meanwhile, international peacekeeping forces are also suffering heavy losses. Malawi has announced plans to withdraw its troops following the deaths of three of its soldiers. South Africa, leading a southern African military coalition, has lost 14 soldiers but remains committed to the mission, as confirmed by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Health Crisis Looms
Amid the turmoil, Goma faces an escalating health emergency. Access to clean water has been cut off for days, and bodies left unburied in the streets raise fears of a cholera outbreak. Stephan Goetghbuer, a regional leader for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), warned of a growing crisis:
“Our cholera treatment centers are overwhelmed, and we have been forced to expand them. Waterborne diseases like cholera are a serious threat.”
As the humanitarian situation worsens and violence continues, the people of eastern DR Congo remain caught in a cycle of conflict, displacement, and suffering.