Chaos and Horror: Surviving the Tragedy at Munzenze Prison in DR Congo

In the aftermath of a deadly jailbreak at Munzenze Prison in eastern DR Congo, survivors recount harrowing experiences of sexual violence and the chaos that ensued, reflecting a heartbreaking picture of neglect from authorities in a region plagued by conflict.

"He told me that I'd die if I tried to escape," recalls 22-year-old Pascaline, one of the many women who suffered during a recent jailbreak at Munzenze Prison in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The incident unfolded in the early hours of January 27 as chaos erupted when Rwandan-backed M23 rebels advanced on the city. The prison, which housed approximately 167 female inmates, became a scene of unimaginable horror.

Pascaline, who had been imprisoned under dubious circumstances, was subjected to multiple rapes by male inmates who breached the prison's walls. She vividly remembers the fear shared among the women as the attackers shouted and climbed onto the water tanks. “The ones who were lucky got out without being raped," she lamented.

Amidst the turmoil of a jailbreak that saw around 4,000 male inmates escape, a heartbreaking victim count emerged, with reports indicating at least 153 women and many children perished in the chaos and resulting fire. Geared primarily by a desperate desire for survival, Pascaline returned to the charred remnants of the prison, haunted by the memories of those who lost their lives.

Accompanying her was 22-year-old Nadine, another survivor whose traumatic experience involved multiple assaults. “They took all the women here,” she explained, expressing anger towards the authorities for their inadequacies leading up to and during the violence. Nadine pointed to her imprisonment over an unpaid debt as unjust and indicative of the systemic failures of the Congolese government, which has left Goma vulnerable to the current rebel conflict.

As survivors sift through the ashes of what was once a prison, the remnants of lives lost – such as a tiny pink sandal or shiny buttons from children’s clothing – serve as stark reminders of the tragedy. Florence, another survivor, described the horror of children succumbing when tear gas was deployed by nearby soldiers rather than efforts being made to extinguish the flames.

Despite the overwhelming evidence of violence and neglect, official responses have been absent. Survivors like Sifa, who narrowly escaped the fire and lost her two-year-old daughter, find that no inquiries into the events have been initiated. “No one will be pursued. It's already over," Sifa sighed, signifying the deep-seated neglect felt by those affected.

Victims like Pascaline, Nadine, Florence, and Sifa underscore the urgent need for justice and accountability in a region beset by ongoing conflict and instability. As Goma falls deeper under rebel control, these individual stories emerge not only as accounts of survival but as a haunting reflection of the systemic violence faced by women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.