GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo — More than 150 female prisoners were raped and burned to death during a jailbreak in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), after fleeing male inmates set fire to the prison, according to the United Nations.
Seif Magango, a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, told CNN that most of the 165 female inmates who were raped died in the fire.
Only between nine and 13 women survived, all of whom had also been subjected to sexual violence, Magango said, citing a Congolese judicial source.
“We did not independently verify the judicial official’s report ourselves, but we do consider his account to be credible,” Magango stated on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
Mass Prison Escape During M23 Offensive
The Muzenze prison attack occurred on January 27, as M23 rebels fought Congolese government forces for control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.
According to UN-sponsored Radio Okapi, more than 4,000 detainees escaped during the chaos, leaving the prison completely empty and in ruins.
Some of the escaping male inmates were shot dead by prison guards, but many succeeded in fleeing into the city.
DRC Government Condemns ‘Barbaric Crime’
Patrick Muyaya, DRC’s Minister of Communications, confirmed that 165 women had been raped and denounced the atrocities.
“The government condemns with the greatest energy this barbaric crime,” Muyaya told CNN on Wednesday.
The brutal killings and mass sexual violence reflect a pattern of conflict-related abuses that have plagued the DRC for decades, particularly in its war-torn eastern regions.
UN Reports Additional Sexual Violence by DRC Army
The United Nations Human Rights Office has also received reports of sexual violence committed by the Congolese military and its allied forces.
“We are verifying reports that 52 women were raped by Congolese troops in South Kivu, including alleged reports of gang rape,” said Jeremy Laurence, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a statement on Friday.
CNN has reached out to Congolese military officials for comment on the allegations but has not yet received a response.
M23 Rebels Call for Ceasefire
Meanwhile, the M23 rebel group, which has claimed control of Goma, has called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire after nearly 3,000 people were killed in recent clashes with Congolese forces.
The rebel group, which reportedly operates with Rwandan military support, has seized key locations in Goma, including its airport and major government buildings.
The violence has left the mineral-rich region in further turmoil, deepening the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
As international condemnation grows, the UN and human rights groups are calling for urgent action to hold those responsible accountable and provide support for survivors of the widespread sexual violence and killings.
