Sexual violence spikes in Congo as women face daily attacks

Women and girls in eastern Congo are facing what ActionAid calls a terrifying wave of sexual violence, as attacks by armed groups continue to spread across the region.

In just two months (March and April 2025), ActionAid recorded 381 cases of sexual violence in North and South Kivu.

That’s more than five times the number reported in January and February, and already half of the total cases seen in the whole of 2024.

"These numbers are horrifying, but they barely scratch the surface of what’s really happening," said Saani Yakuba, Country Director for ActionAid DRC.

"Many women and girls are too afraid or traumatised to report what has happened to them. And ActionAid is just one of many organisations documenting these cases, when you look at the full picture, the scale of the violence against women and girls is even more staggering."

The group said the recent spike is not random but shows clear signs that rape is being used deliberately in the conflict.

"The spike in cases over the past few months is clear evidence that this horrific sexual violence is being used as a deliberate weapon of war," Yakuba added.

Forced and early marriage is also rising. In just the first four months of 2025, ActionAid documented 58 such cases, already 86% of the total for all of 2024.

Staff working in the region say many more cases likely go unreported.

"Rape and sexual violence are daily terrors faced by women and girls here. Many survivors are afraid to report their assaults, fearing stigma. Our teams encounter countless cases where victims remain silent, unwilling to report," said a member of ActionAid’s protection team in North Kivu.

The risk is even greater for the more than 2.7 million people currently displaced in North Kivu.

Many live in makeshift camps around Goma, which are overcrowded and unsafe.

Armed groups have dismantled some camps, forcing women and girls back into areas controlled by fighters, where they are exposed to more violence.

"Women and girls have suffered as collateral damage in this conflict for far too long. Despite two temporary ceasefires agreements, fighting is ongoing. The international community must act urgently to secure a permanent ceasefire and ensure the withdrawal of armed groups from populated areas such as Kashebere and Goma to protect civilians," said Yakuba.

ActionAid says it is continuing to support survivors through emergency protection work, including shelter, cash help, and mental health care.