DAKAR, Senegal — On Thursday, the United Nations children’s organization issued a grave report accusing armed groups, likely from both the government and rebel factions, of committing widespread rapes against numerous children in eastern Congo over recent weeks. This alarming surge in violence appears to coincide with the ongoing expansion of rebel influence, which has increasingly pushed back government troops.
UNICEF highlighted distressing accounts of human rights violations in the mineral-rich territories of North and South Kivu. Reports indicate that both the M23 rebels and the government forces have been implicated in these heinous acts. “We are hearing harrowing testimonies of severe abuses against children, including rampant rape and other forms of sexual violence, at levels we’ve not witnessed in prior years,” stated UNICEF’s Executive Director Catherine Russell.
One particularly disturbing account shared by a mother detailed how her six daughters, the youngest being just 12 years old, were repeatedly raped by armed attackers as they sought food. This revelation underscores the pervasive danger that affects children in the region amid the chaos of ongoing conflict.
In an alarming escalation of these crimes, health facilities in the troubled region reported a staggering 572 cases of rape during the week from January 27 to February 2, which marks a dramatic more than fivefold increase from the previous week. Lianne Gutcher, UNICEF’s communication chief in Congo, noted that 170 of those victims treated during that period were children.
While it is understood that armed men were responsible for these rapes, the specific affiliations of the perpetrators remain unknown. Gutcher remarked that it is believed that all parties involved in the conflict are contributing to the sexual violence being reported.
The M23 rebels, who are backed by Rwanda, are currently among the most dominant of over 100 armed groups battling for control of Congo’s resource-rich eastern territories, leading to one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally. In a significant escalation of violence, the M23 captured Goma, the largest city in the area, in late January, intensifying the conflict.
In response to these atrocities, the United Nations Human Rights Council recently established a commission tasked with investigating serious violations, including rapes and public executions attributed to both the Congolese military and the M23 rebels since the beginning of this year.
Additionally, in a development that highlights the volatility in the region, 84 Congolese soldiers have begun standing trial in Bukavu for their involvement in serious crimes such as murder and rape. This city remains under the jurisdiction of government forces, though the rebel advances have steadily approached its outskirts.
