Hundreds of women were raped and burned alive during the chaos following the capture of Goma by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, according to a senior United Nations official.

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M23 Group Announces Unilateral Ceasefire in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

The atrocity took place at Munzenze Prison, where a mass jailbreak allowed thousands of male inmates to escape. However, the women’s section was deliberately set on fire, leaving no survivors.

Vivian van de Perre, deputy head of the UN peacekeeping force in Goma, confirmed that M23’s takeover of the city on January 27 triggered widespread violence, including the systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. Satellite images and witness accounts indicate that thick black smoke was seen rising from the prison shortly after the rebel invasion.

By Tuesday, reports revealed that approximately 2,000 bodies remained unburied in North Kivu’s provincial capital, further highlighting the scale of the ongoing crisis.

International Outrage Grows

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has condemned the widespread sexual violence in Goma, warning that both M23 and rival armed groups are using rape as a weapon of war.

Despite holding full control over the city, M23 unexpectedly declared a unilateral ceasefire late on Monday. However, UN officials remain skeptical, citing the rebels’ history of breaking ceasefire agreements while continuing to commit war crimes and human rights abuses.

The conflict in eastern DRC, which has raged for decades, has intensified in recent weeks, displacing thousands and leaving millions at risk as violence escalates.

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