As the M23 rebels proceeded on Bukavu during January and February, many villages in Kivu Lake were converted into battlegrounds. Although the fighters from all the parties have committed torture, the civil society groups and activists have identified the Kangoli military and affiliated Wazelndo militia from North Kivu province as raping women and children.
The remaining people do not get any justice
Risiki (not her real name) told DW that she survived an attack.“Three soldiers broke to rob my house,” said Rijiki. “One of them came to my bedroom to rape me, but I protested.”“Others shouted to leave him, but he refused,” said Rijiki. “Fortunately, my son came to my rescue and they left after trash.”The crime took place in Kavumu village in February, about 30 kilometers (18 mi) from Bukavu. After that, five -year -old mother Rijiki found shelter in Bukavu.She expected to get justice in Bukevu during a planned test. But then, the M23 fighters took the city. Judge, lawyer, defendant, guilty, and even some survivors fled.“I started trading,” Rijiki said. “Unfortunately, the armed men came back to the neighborhood where I had run away with my children. They killed two neighbors. We ran away again, and I only recently returned.”
Silent people silent
The new officers did not improve much: Witnesses reported cases of rape and sexual violence in cities with Mobile and Goma of Buvavu and Goma-especially to target married women and girls. Women were also forced to perform sexual functions in exchange for various services, and in many cases, the remaining people did not press the allegations with fear and shame.A young woman, who wants to remain anonymous, was incorrectly lodged in a secret service jail. He told DW of his experience.“At night, a guard threatened to rape me. When I pushed him away, he hit me. I shouted in pain. Fortunately, the superior officer came, and the guard was killed. People watching the scene told me that women were usually raped, who raped women without knowing their seniors,” he said.
Rape as a weapon of war
Doctors bidout borders (MSF), an emergency medical organization, reports that sexual violence cases have exploded, especially in North Kivu, because the fight between Kangoli Army and M3 started.MSF treated around 40,000 victims in 2024; Between January and April 2025, there were about 7,400 victims and survived. In South Kivu, MSF has assisted around 700 people in Kalehe and UVIRA regions since the beginning of 2025. According to the MSF report, most of the attacks reported by the victims in 2025 were carried out at the tip of the gun, which was unacceptable with criminals.DW said, “The systematic use of rape as a weapon of war is not only a violation of human rights, but also a deliberate strategy to destabilize communities,” DRC Country Director Amdou Bokoum told DW for Care International. Care registered 67,000 cases of sexual violence against women and girls in the first four months of 2025 – an increase of 38% from 2024. “Due to the ongoing battle,” Bokom said, “More women are being attacked and raped.”“At the same time, the United States government has cut financial aid, which is normally 40%,” Bokom said. “We no longer have emergency medicines to prevent HIV infection after rape in stock at our health centers.”Wilmin Ntakebuka, coordinator of the Women’s Rights Organization Vision Communication, spoke of “dangerous figures” in the MSF report. “This war should already end,” Ntakebuka said. “Thirty -year wars are very high, with all the results made by the civilian population, especially women and girls. Women should not pay the high price of armed conflict.”
