Priyanka Tiwari
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The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported on Thursday that armed groups in eastern Congo have raped hundreds of girls and forcibly recruited many children as soldiers. The region has seen an escalation in violence in recent weeks, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell expressed deep concern, stating, "We are receiving reports of extreme violence against children in North and South Kivu provinces. The level of rape and sexual violence witnessed in recent years has not reached this scale."
Shocking Testimonies from Victims
Among the tragic stories, a mother recounted to UNICEF staff that her six daughters, the youngest only 12 years old, were raped by armed men while they searched for food. This region of Congo is plagued by over 100 armed groups vying for control over mineral-rich territories, fueling ongoing violence and displacement.
572 Girls Raped in Just One Week
The M23 rebel group, one of the most dominant in the region, captured the city of Goma in late January, significantly escalating the conflict. Between January 27 and February 2, 572 cases of rape were recorded—five times the number from the previous week. According to UNICEF official Liane Gachhar, 170 of the victims were children.
UN Investigates Crimes Amid Growing Crisis
In response to the mounting atrocities, the United Nations Human Rights Council has established a commission to investigate these crimes. The commission will examine violations committed by both the Congolese army and M23 rebels. However, attributing responsibility remains complex, as multiple armed groups are suspected of committing acts of sexual violence.
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