Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has reported a staggering increase in the number of victims of sexual violence treated in Congo last year.
Over 25,000 individuals sought medical assistance from the organization, making it the highest recorded level in the country.
The majority of these cases occurred in eastern Congo, where armed groups continue to fight for power and control.
The displacement camps near Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, witnessed an alarming average of two sexual violence victims per hour. According to MSF’s program manager in Congo, Christopher Mambula, “Two-thirds of our patients reported being assaulted at gunpoint.”
The ongoing armed conflict in eastern Congo has displaced millions of people and created a dangerous environment ripe for violence. Over 120 armed groups are vying for power, land, and valuable resources, leading to widespread human rights abuses, including mass killings, rapes, and other atrocities.
The conflict has also strained relations between Congo and neighboring Rwanda. Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group and engaging in aggression in the region. Rwanda denies these allegations but has admitted to deploying troops in eastern Congo to protect its security.
The M23 rebel group, primarily composed of ethnic Tutsis, has been a significant player in the conflict. They have launched several offensives, including a major attack in 2012 that resulted in the capture of Goma.
Human Rights Watch has recently accused both Rwanda and Congo’s army of committing atrocities against civilians, including killings, rapes, and obstruction of aid. MSF has also highlighted the inadequate humanitarian response and inhumane living conditions in displacement camps as contributing factors to the surge in sexual violence.
The organization continues to provide medical assistance to victims of sexual violence in Congo and calls for a comprehensive approach to address the root causes of the crisis and ensure the protection of vulnerable populations.
