In a devastating incident in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), dozens of female prisoners were reportedly raped and burned alive during a mass jailbreak at Munzenze prison. According to an internal UN document obtained by the BBC, hundreds of male prisoners escaped last Monday, assaulting approximately 165 women during their breakout. The women’s section of the prison was set ablaze, while several thousand men fled the facility. These events unfolded as Rwanda-backed M23 rebels launched an offensive to seize control of the city, leaving over 2,000 people dead.
The Guardian describes this atrocity as the worst since the resurgence of the M23-led conflict. Despite the severity of the situation, UN peacekeepers in Goma have been blocked from investigating the incident by M23 forces. Meanwhile, a ceasefire announced by the rebels earlier in the week has failed to hold. On Wednesday, M23 forces captured Nyabibwe, a key town located roughly 60 miles from Bukavu, the second-largest city in the region, further escalating tensions.
The M23 rebels, reportedly supported by 4,000 Rwandan troops, have become the most formidable of the over 100 armed groups operating in eastern Congo. This region, rich in minerals critical for global technology, remains embroiled in violent power struggles. The current M23 offensive is far larger in scale than their 2012 capture of Goma, which ended after significant international pressure.
To make matters worse, a cholera outbreak now looms over Goma. Médecins Sans Frontières warns of worsening conditions, with water supplies cut, corpses littering the streets, and overcrowded cholera treatment centers struggling to cope.
What are your thoughts on how the international community should respond to the dual crises in Goma? Share your perspectives in the comments below.
