A tragic incident unfolded in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where more than 150 female prisoners were raped and burned to death during a violent jailbreak last week, according to the United Nations. The mass escape, reportedly orchestrated by male inmates, occurred amidst intense clashes between the M23 rebel group and Congolese forces, escalating the ongoing conflict in the region.

Horrific Mass Rape and Fire at Muzenze Prison

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango confirmed the reports, stating that 165 female inmates were sexually assaulted during the prison break. Tragically, most of these women perished in the fire set by escaping male prisoners. According to judicial sources in the DRC, only nine to thirteen women survived, all of whom had also been victims of sexual violence.

“We did not independently verify the judicial official’s report ourselves, but we do consider his account to be credible,” Magango stated. The DRC’s communications minister, Patrick Muyaya, confirmed the shocking crimes and strongly condemned the barbaric attack on the women.

The Role of the M23 Insurgency and the Prison Break

The Muzenze prison break took place on January 27, 2025, as the M23 rebel group, reportedly backed by Rwandan forces, engaged in intense battles with Congolese troops to gain control over Goma. The UN-backed Radio Okapi reported that more than 4,000 detainees fled the prison that day, leaving the facility in ruins and completely empty. Many male inmates, including hardened criminals, took advantage of the chaos to orchestrate the mass sexual assault before setting fire to the prison.

Security forces attempted to intervene, and several of the escaping prisoners were killed by guards, but authorities were unable to prevent the mass exodus. The M23 rebels, who have claimed control over large parts of Goma, have since called for a humanitarian ceasefire after a week of intense fighting left nearly 3,000 people dead.

Decades of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in DRC

The mass rape and killings in Muzenze prison reflect a long history of sexual violence in the DRC, where women and girls have suffered extensively in the ongoing conflict. Rape has frequently been used as a weapon of war, with various armed groups, government forces, and militia factions committing systematic sexual violence against civilians.

The UN’s Human Rights Office also reported additional cases of sexual violence by the Congolese army and its allied forces in the same week. Jeremy Laurence, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that 52 women were reportedly raped by Congolese troops in South Kivu, including instances of gang rape.

A Call for International Action

As the situation in Goma and across the DRC continues to deteriorate, human rights organizations and international bodies are calling for urgent intervention to address the ongoing atrocities, sexual violence, and humanitarian crisis. The DRC government has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, but many fear that the deep-rooted culture of impunity will allow war crimes and crimes against humanity to persist.

With tens of thousands displaced and a city ravaged by war, the international community faces growing pressure to act swiftly in ensuring justice for the victims and stability for the war-torn region.