UN: A child is raped every half hour in Congo

Thousands of children have been exposed to rape in Congo-Kinshasa in just two months. During the most intense phase of this year's conflict in eastern Congo, a child was raped every half hour, says James Elder from Unicef.

» Published: April 11 2025

UN: A child is raped every half hour in Congo
Photo: Moses Sawasawa/AP/TT

Eastern Congo-Kinshasa has been marked by unrest for several decades. But the tensions have increased further in recent months due to the advance of the armed group M23, which is supported by the neighboring country Rwanda.

Early reports show that children make up between 35 to 45 percent of the nearly 10,000 cases of rape and sexual violence reported, just in January and February this year, says spokesperson James Elder from the UN children's fund Unicef.

The conflict has killed thousands and over 100,000 people have been forced to flee.

We're not talking about isolated incidents, but about a systematic crisis. We see survivors as young as infants.

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By TTTranslated and adapted by Sweden Herald
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