The Democratic Republic of Congo continues to suffer violence from armed groups, and the figures from last March reflect this reality. According to the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), 68 women were victims of conflict-related sexual violence, a considerable increase compared to the previous month (only 16 victims in February). Armed groups are the main perpetrators of this violence, with a total of 63 victims identified. The Mai-Mai Twa commanded by Liwa, the Ngumino, the M23 and CODECO were the most implicated in these reprehensible acts. Cases of sexual violence committed by the military have also been reported, all attributable to the FARDC.
The provinces most affected by this sexual violence are South Kivu, North Kivu, Tanganyika and Ituri.
Faced with this worrying situation, national and international experts are calling for increased efforts to guarantee peace and security for civilian populations. The population, for its part, lives in fear and uncertainty, especially given the current political context and the resulting tensions.
The fight against sexual violence is an everyday battle, which requires the involvement of everyone: government, security forces, human rights organizations, etc. It is also essential to support the victims so that they can rebuild themselves and reintegrate into society.
It is therefore important to continue to inform, raise awareness and denounce these unspeakable acts to end this crisis in the DRC.