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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Hundreds of women are raped then burned alive after rebel group breaks into prison and forces its way into female ward |
| 2025-02-06 |
| [Daily Mail, where America gets its news] Hundreds of women were raped and then burnt alive after Rwandan-backed rebels sparked chaos by storming into the Congolese city of Goma, it has emerged. The atrocity took place during a mass jail break from the Munzenze jail last week, as M23 fighters clashed with the Congolese army during deadly gun battles. According to the UN, female inmates were butchered in their wing in the notoriously overcrowded prison after men forced their way in and went on a rampage. While thousands of male criminals managed to flee the lock up, the area reserved for women was torched to the ground, Vivian van de Perre, the deputy head of the UN peacekeeping force in Goma, said. Images taken shortly after M23 fighters reached the centre of Goma showed vast plumes of black smoke rising from the jail on January 27, as long lines of men sprinted away from the inferno, yelling. It's unclear who was behind the slaughter of the female inmates as UN peacekeepers have been barred from entering the site by M23 rebels. However, reports have suggested at least 141 jailed women were murdered, along with 28 young children, who had been in detention with their mothers. Describing the carnage, Ms Van de Perre said the figure could be higher. 'There was a major prison breakout of 4,000 escaped prisoners. A few hundred women were also in that prison... They were all raped and then they set fire to the women's wing. They all died afterwards,' she said. Local reports claim that during the mayhem, inmates were gunned down by guards as they attempted to stop the mass break out. A week on from the rampage and the Munzenze jail lies in ruins and is completely empty, with the guards having deserted their posts. A large part of the facility has been destroyed by blaze, including the prison administration's office. The prison was also looted in the wake of the escape. Prior to the incident, Munzenze Central Prison housed around 4,400 inmates, well beyond its capacity. On Tuesday it emerged that 2,000 bodies were still awaiting burial in Goma after the M23 rebels seized the city, which is the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's North Kivu province. In a disturbing new claim following the uprising, the UN office of the high commissioner for human rights (OHCHR) warned that sexual violence is being used as a weapon of war by rival armed groups in Goma. The city, home to one million people, is now under the complete control of M23 fighters. On Monday the rebel group declared a ceasefire would begin on Tuesday for 'humanitarian reasons'. |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
| #5 Rwandan backed rebels invade Congo and seize major city. That seems the more appropriate headline |
| Posted by: mossomo 2025-02-06 12:49 |
| #4 Rwanda-backed rebels declare unilateral ceasefire but still control the major Congo city they seized Seems like some sanctions on Rwana are due. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2025-02-06 11:22 |
| #3 March 23 Movement M23 |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2025-02-06 11:21 |
| #2 Some say, Over 100,000 years ago, humanity started in Africa? Humanity then migrated to other lands and established civilized communities. |
| Posted by: NN2N1 2025-02-06 05:24 |
| #1 Trying to make Islam look good? |
| Posted by: Grom the Affective 2025-02-06 01:45 |