At least 165 female prisoners were raped and then burned alive during a jailbreak in Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo last week, according to the United Nations.
During the jailbreak, hundreds of prisoners broke out of Munzenze prison when fighters from rebel group M23 advanced towards the city.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a call for peace in eastern DR Congo, where thousands of people, including women and children have been killed since Goma was captured.
Details of last week’s the prison incident remain scarce, however the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk said the UN “is particularly concerned that this latest escalation risks deepening the risk of conflict-related sexual violence much further.“
Footage from the jailbreak showed prisoners fleeing from the building as smoke rose around the area. It has been reported that the women prisoners were killed in the fire.
Goma, a city of more than a million people, was captured after the Rwanda-backed group M23 executed an advance through eastern DR Congo on January 27. The group then headed south towards Bukavu, capital of the South Kivu province. The UN has estimated that nearly 3000 people were killed and 2000 bodies buried.
“We are at a pivotal moment and it is time to rally together for peace,” Guterres said this week.
“We need the active and constructive role of all players — namely neighbouring countries, subregional organisations, the African Union and the United Nations.”
The capture of Goma last week by M23 has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, with fears growing about the possibility of further regional conflict. There also concerns about an outbreak of cholera after water and electricity was cut off in the city for days.
M23’s capture of Goma last week displaced hundreds of thousands of people and fanned fears of a wider regional war. The UN has reported that healthcare facilities and other essential services like schools and the internet are overwhelmed or limited.
Earlier this week, the rebels unexpectedly announced a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds. However, it has already launched a new offensive capturing the town of Nyabibwe.
Guterres has called for mediation to end this crisis.
“It is time for peace. The stakes are too high,” he said.