An internal report by the United Nations reveals that over 260 female inmates were sexually assaulted during a chaotic mass escape attempt at the Makala Central Prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier this month.
The incident occurred on September 2, when inmates tried to flee the severely overcrowded Kinshasa facility. Officially built to hold 1,500 prisoners, the prison housed more than 15,000.
During the escape attempt, guards used live ammunition to suppress the inmates, resulting in at least 129 deaths. The Congolese government acknowledged that women were sexually assaulted during the incident but did not provide specific numbers.
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However, the U.N. report revealed that 268 out of 348 female inmates were subjected to sexual violence, including rape, with 17 of the victims being under the age of 19.
The report emphasized the need for post-assault medical kits and emergency contraception for the survivors, highlighting the urgency of immediate medical intervention.
One victim, fearing reprisals, spoke anonymously, recounting that at least a dozen male inmates had raped her. Another woman described the horrific scene, saying, "I saw the male prisoners throwing themselves at the female prisoners. It was horrible," noting that even elderly women were targeted.
Emmanuel Cole, a Congolese human rights activist, stated that this incident marked one of the worst cases of sexual violence in prison he had encountered since starting his prison work in 1997. He also warned that the actual number of victims might be higher, as many women likely feared speaking out.
President Felix Tshisekedi has ordered an investigation into the prison break and called for a review of prison overcrowding nationwide. Despite the chaos, no successful escapes were reported.
