Goma: For women in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), nowhere is safe from the pervasive threat of sexual violence. Every week, hundreds of victims and survivors seek care at health centers supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu. In 2024 alone, MSF treated nearly 40,000 women, marking a record high. The situation has deteriorated further since January 2025, when M23/Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) forces, backed by Rwanda, seized control of Goma after years of conflict with the Congolese army and allied armed groups.
According to African Press Organization, the takeover of Goma has intensified the prevalence of sexual violence. During the first week of the offensive, hospitals were overwhelmed with casualties, and morgues quickly filled as the Congolese army and its allies retreated. The new authorities have been unable to curb the heightened insecurity, crime, and violence that have become the norm.
MSF teams continue to document alarming levels of sexual violence. Between January and April, more than 7,400 victims received treatment at Ministry of Health facilities supported by MSF in Goma, with an additional 2,400 treated in Saké. Many individuals are unable to return to their homes due to lack of resources or because their lands have been seized, leading them to seek refuge with host families or in low-cost housing in Goma and surrounding areas.
The story of Nasha, who moved to a school courtyard after her camp was destroyed, is a grim illustration of the situation. Armed men attacked her, killing her husband when he tried to intervene. Such incidents are not isolated, as women from nearby areas travel to the city daily in search of safety, only to face frequent attacks.
Armelle Gbagbo of MSF explains that most rapes used to occur during daily activities like collecting firewood or trading. Now, attacks often happen at night in the supposed safety of homes or refuges, with women being assaulted in various settings across the city.
The violence is not confined to armed men; it also includes assaults by family members and others close to the victims. Frédéric Germain, MSF’s project coordinator, notes that Goma’s residents live in fear due to significant insecurity and a slowdown in the economy, creating a climate of violent predation.
A study by Epicentre reveals a surge in violence in Goma, with reported incidents more than five times higher than in 2024. The study indicates that violent deaths make up a quarter of all deaths, and both physical violence and verbal threats are rampant.
The offensive on Goma has prompted many humanitarian workers to flee, leaving MSF as one of the few organizations providing health services. The needs are immense, with many women suffering from STDs linked to gang rapes or survival sex. The situation has been exacerbated by the cancellation of a USAID order for post-rape kits, leaving the United Nations Population Fund in North Kivu with only 2,500 kits for a province where thousands of women are attacked monthly.
Dr. Brahima Touré from Epicentre highlights the underreporting of sexual violence, stressing the need for international support. Germain echoes this, urging global partners to assist the thousands in need of urgent medical care in Goma and beyond.
Names have been changed to protect the identity of patients.