Congo jailbreak footage shows prisoners fleeing as smoke billowed in the background, with heavy gunfire ringing out.
More than 100 female prisoners were raped and burned alive during a mass jailbreak in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a UN report.
The escape took place on last Monday when M23 rebels, reportedly backed by Rwanda, attacked the city, triggering chaos inside Munzenze prison. An internal UN document seen by the BBC reveals that between 165 and 167 women were sexually assaulted by male inmates before being killed in a fire set by the prisoners.
Goma, a city of over one million residents, fell to M23 rebels after their swift advance through eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to the UN, the fighting has claimed at least 2,900 lives, with 2,000 bodies already buried and another 900 still in morgues.
The UN peacekeeping force Deputy head in Goma, Vivian van de Perre claimed that around 4,000 prisoners escaped from the facility, including a few hundred women who were trapped in the fire.
The UN human rights office (OHCHR) has warned about the armed groups in Goma who are using sexual violence as a weapon in the conflict.
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It can be clearly seen the footage from the jailbreak that prrisoners are fleeing as smoke spreads in the background, with heavy gunfire ringing out.
🚨⚡🇨🇩More than 100 female prisoners were raped and then burned alive during a prison break in the Democratic Republic of Congo city of Goma
— vanhoa (@vanhoa2272) February 7, 2025
An internal UN document, according to the BBC, says that between 165 & 167 women were attacked by male prisoners during a prison break🙏✝️ pic.twitter.com/KXjsLxK8cd
Even though M23 rebels announced a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons, they launched a new attack on Wednesday, capturing Nyabibwe, a mining town 100 km (60 miles) from Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern Congo, according to the BBC.
To protect Bukavu from a possible rebel attack, Congolese authorities have recruited hundreds of civilian volunteers.
Van de Perre warned that if the rebels move south toward Bukavu, it could lead to “a new battle with thousands more deaths.”
Humanitarian Crisis
As people in Goma adjust to life under M23 rule, the situation is getting worse. Clean water is no longer available, and bodies are still lying in the streets, raising fears of disease outbreaks.
