Over 1,100 rape cases recorded in DRC’s South Kivu in three months

More than 1,100 women and girls in the Uvira health zone of South Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, were victims of rape between December 2025 and February 2026. Healthcare professionals recorded these cases during a period marked by chronic insecurity, mass displacement, and persistent discriminatory norms.

Mapenzi Manyebwa, coordinator for the Uvira Civil Society for Sustainable Development (DSCDD), described the statistics as a stark warning. "Abusers strike both day and night," he said, urging authorities to accelerate effective strategies to curb the rising weekly rate of violence.

Civil society groups are deploying community-based prevention mechanisms, including alert networks and civil protection groups, to encourage reporting. However, fear of reprisal, stigmatization, and family rejection force many victims into silence, hampering prevention efforts.

Legal reforms aim to improve access to justice. Under Law No. 22/065 of December 26, 2022, victims no longer require spousal permission to initiate legal proceedings or file civil lawsuits without paying court fees. Attorney François Igilima noted that the DRC has also implemented a national gender-based violence action plan since 2023, focusing on prevention and holistic care.

Despite these legal safeguards, community awareness remains low. Dr. Nerval Songolo Mutambala, a psychological care practitioner, emphasized that healing requires respecting victims' pace and combating social stigmatization, which often drives survivors into isolation.

Local media organizations are scaling up awareness campaigns to remind victims of the critical importance of seeking medical attention within 72 hours of an assault for emergency prophylactic treatment and legal support.