Unimaginable horror unfolded in the Democratic Republic of Congo! Ruthless rebels stormed Goma and turned a prison into a bloodbath. Hundreds of female inmates were raped and then set on fire. Their screams echoed as flames consumed the women’s wing of Munzenze Central Prison.
Chaos in Munzenze prison
Chaos erupted when Rwanda-backed M23 fighters clashed with the Congolese army. During the deadly battle, the rebels stormed the overcrowded prison, triggering a mass escape. Thousands of male inmates fled, running for their lives. But the women had no escape. Their section was torched to the ground.
The UN confirmed the gruesome details. Deputy head of the UN peacekeeping force, Vivian van de Perre, revealed that 141 women and 28 children perished in the inferno. The brutality shocked even war-hardened observers.
Shocking scenes of destruction
Disturbing images from January 27 showed thick black smoke billowing from the prison. Men sprinted away from the burning compound, shouting as they disappeared into the city. But no one ran from the women’s ward. There was no one left alive.
The slaughter remains shrouded in mystery. UN peacekeepers were blocked from the site. No one knows who lit the match that sealed the prisoners’ fate. Some reports suggest the carnage was planned. Others claim it was chaos spun out of control.
The aftermath: a city in fear
As the flames died down, Munzenze Prison lay in ruins. Guards abandoned their posts. The once-crowded jail stood empty, looted and destroyed. Even the prison administration office was reduced to ash. Before the attack, the facility held 4,400 prisoners—far beyond its limit.
But the nightmare didn’t end there.
Goma under rebel control
Goma, home to one million people, is now completely under M23 control. The streets are silent, but fear lingers. The UN reports a horrifying surge in sexual violence, used as a weapon of war by armed groups. Thousands of women and girls are at risk.
The human toll is staggering. Nearly 2,900 were injured in the violence. Local reports claim over 2,000 were killed. Bodies still litter the city, waiting for burial.
On Monday, M23 rebels declared a sudden ceasefire, claiming “humanitarian reasons.” Their statement promised to hold positions but avoid further expansion. However, just days earlier, they had vowed to seize more territory. Can they be trusted?
The rebel alliance, known as the ‘Congo River Alliance,’ has accused the Congolese military of deadly airstrikes. The army, in turn, blames the rebels for the carnage.
Tensions continue to rise. Rwanda faces mounting pressure. President Paul Kagame denied involvement but admitted Rwanda would do anything necessary to protect itself.
Calls for action
Meanwhile, international outrage is growing. Human rights groups demand action. DR Congo’s communications minister, Patrick Muyaya, called for severe sanctions against Rwanda. He warned that only firm global intervention could stop the bloodshed.
As conflict rages, civilians continue to suffer. Over 400,000 people have fled their homes in the first weeks of 2025 alone. The region is on the brink.
Will the ceasefire hold? Or is Goma doomed to more destruction? The world watches in horror, waiting for answers.
