The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has condemned a surge in sexual violence against children in eastern Congo, accusing both rebel and government forces of committing widespread rapes in the conflict-ridden region. According to UNICEF, reports of sexual abuse against minors in North and South Kivu provinces have escalated sharply in recent weeks, as rebels, notably the Rwanda-backed M23 group, continue to expand their control over the area.
Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s Executive Director, described the violations as “horrific,” noting that the level of abuse against children has reached new extremes. One particularly harrowing account involved a mother who revealed that her six daughters, the youngest just 12 years old, were repeatedly raped by armed men while scavenging for food. In the week between January 27 and February 2, health facilities in the region treated 572 rape victims, a staggering fivefold increase from the previous week. Of those, 170 were children.
While it remains unclear which specific armed groups were responsible for the assaults, UNICEF believes that all parties to the conflict—including both the M23 rebels and Congolese government forces—are involved in the widespread sexual violence. The M23 rebels have been a dominant force in the region, vying for control of Congo’s mineral-rich eastern provinces, which have long been the site of intense fighting and mass displacement. The escalation of the conflict reached a new high in late January when the rebels seized the city of Goma, a key regional hub.
The violence has drawn international attention, with the UN Human Rights Council launching a commission to investigate atrocities, including sexual violence and alleged summary executions, committed by both the M23 rebels and Congolese forces since the start of the year.
In the midst of the crisis, Congolese health authorities have faced their own challenges. As rebels advanced into Goma, over 140 patients being treated for mpox fled local hospitals. Meanwhile, nearly 100 cholera cases have been recorded as the city falls under full rebel control. Despite the growing humanitarian crisis, efforts to deliver medical aid to Goma are ongoing through a humanitarian corridor from neighboring Rwanda and Kenya.
The conflict has also seen the death of popular Congolese musician Delcat Idengo, who was shot dead in Goma under unclear circumstances. While the Congolese government has accused Rwanda of involvement in the killing, independent verification remains unavailable.
As violence continues to ravage eastern Congo, the international community remains alarmed at the escalating human rights violations, particularly the grave abuse suffered by children amid this prolonged conflict.
