Congo: Rebels Storm Prison in Brutal Assault
"They burned them alive": UN peacekeepers reveal horrific details as 2,000 bodies await burial in Goma, while Rwanda-backed rebels continue to advance despite international outrage. [Warning: graphic content]


In a devastating escalation of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have seized control of Goma following a brutal prison assault that has left hundreds dead and sparked international outrage.
UN peacekeepers report that rebels stormed the Munzenze prison facility, where they perpetrated widespread atrocities, including the systematic killing of women and children. According to Viviane Van de Perre, Deputy Head of the UN peacekeeping mission, attackers set fire to the women's wing after committing mass sexual assault, resulting in the deaths of at least 141 women and 28 children who were being held with their mothers.
"The level of brutality is unprecedented," Van de Perre stated. "The women's section was deliberately targeted in what appears to be a calculated act of terror."
The attack triggered a mass prison break, with approximately 4,000 inmates fleeing the facility, which was already severely overcrowded. Prison guards attempted to contain the situation before abandoning their posts as the facility was overrun.
The city of Goma, home to one million residents, has fallen under complete M23 control. Local authorities report that 2,000 bodies await burial, while UN estimates place the number of wounded at nearly 2,900. Adding to the humanitarian crisis, officials warn of a potential Ebola outbreak due to fighting near a research laboratory.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has issued an urgent warning about the systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war by armed groups in the region. The situation has forced more than 400,000 people to flee their homes since the beginning of 2025 alone.
Regional Implications
The assault marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the DRC and Rwanda-backed forces. While M23 rebels have declared a temporary ceasefire citing humanitarian concerns, they have begun moving reinforcements and heavy equipment toward the city of Bukavu, raising fears of further violence.
Rwanda's involvement remains contentious. President Paul Kagame, when questioned about Rwandan forces operating in Congo, responded cryptically: "If you want to ask me, is there a problem in Congo that concerns Rwanda? And will Rwanda do anything to protect itself? I say 100 percent."
International Response
The Democratic Republic of Congo's Communications Minister, Patrick Muyaya, has called for immediate international intervention. "A strong decision needs to be made not just to condemn, but to stop what Rwanda is doing," Muyaya stated, emphasizing that sanctions against Rwanda should be "the minimum response."
Human rights organizations are intensifying pressure for Rwanda's withdrawal, warning that the situation could deteriorate further without decisive international action. The Congo River Alliance, which includes M23, has countered these concerns by accusing the Congolese army of conducting deadly aerial bombardments in territories under their control.
Humanitarian Crisis
The violence has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation in the region. Over the past three years, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been displaced by the conflict. Aid organizations report severe challenges in accessing affected areas, with M23 forces restricting UN peacekeepers' movement, including preventing them from investigating the prison massacre site.
The UN peacekeeping mission warns that without immediate intervention, the region faces the prospect of "a new collision with thousands more casualties," particularly as M23 forces consolidate their control and move toward new objectives.
Maariv contributed to this article.