DR Congo Prison Fire: 153 Women Killed, Survivors Report Rape

In a devastating incident at Munzenze prison in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, a jailbreak on January 27 led to the deaths of at least 153 women and numerous children, with many burned alive and others raped by male inmates. Survivors have recounted harrowing experiences, including Pascaline, who was raped multiple times during the chaos as Rwandan-backed M23 rebels closed in on the city. The prison guards had largely fled, leaving the women vulnerable to the attacks, with around 4,000 male inmates managing to escape. Tear gas was reportedly used against the female prisoners, exacerbating the deadly conditions during the incident. Survivors describe the trauma of witnessing the violence and the aftermath of the fire that destroyed their section of the prison. A month later, many are still haunted by the trauma and are seeking to share their stories as a testament to the horrors endured during the jailbreak.