Warning: The following article contains disturbing content, including accounts of rape, from the outset.
“He threatened to kill me if I attempted to escape.”
Pascaline, 22, remembers the chilling words of her rapist at a prison in Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in the early hours of January 27.
“I had no choice but to endure it to save my life,” Pascaline recounts to the BBC.
She was assaulted by a second man at Munzenze prison, with the first attack being so brutal that it caused her to lose consciousness.
According to Pascaline, the perpetrators entered from the men’s section nearby, known as “Safina,” by scaling the wall.
“A commotion was heard as they hopped onto the water tanks. There were numerous assailants, and we were petrified. Those unlucky were subjected to rape, while those fortunate enough escaped unharmed.”
Mayhem gripped the prison and the surrounding city as M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda, advanced towards Goma.
With most prison guards and city officials having fled, gunshots echoed outside the facility.
Later on, a fire broke out within the compound, reportedly lit by male inmates attempting to flee.
While around 4,000 male prisoners managed to break free by morning, only a few women were able to escape. Two sources reported that 132 female prisoners, along with at least 25 children, perished in the blaze.
A UN official informed the BBC that “at least 153 women had died,” citing “credible sources within the prison.”
One month after the tragic events, Pascaline returns to the burnt remnants of the prison complex, where a vacant watchtower remains.
Eager to share her story and be recognized, she serves as a voice for the deceased.
Walking through the women’s yard, Pascaline surveys the scorched walls, scattered cookware, and heaps of clothing. Overcome with horror, she covers her mouth in shock and shakes her head.
“I lost all sense of reality at one point,” she says. “It was witnessing the deaths of others that prompted me to compose myself; I believe it was by the grace of God that I survived.”
A seller of onions, Pascaline ended up incarcerated after being falsely accused of theft by her employer.
Nadine, 22, also revisits the prison, haunted by memories she cannot escape.
“At night, as I sleep, the horrors I witnessed here flood back to me. I see the dead once more – the multitude of lifeless bodies I witnessed until my release. Instead of offering help, they allowed us to perish like animals here,” Nadine laments.
She discloses that she, too, was sexually assaulted by two men.
“Using alcohol, they intended to incapacitate us. They seized me against my will. They targeted all the women in this place.”
The exact number of women
Women prisoners were permitted to have one of their children with them in the jail. Unfortunately, only two children out of 28 survived a fire that broke out in the prison, as reported by a source. Child prisoners, who were held in a separate block, had been released earlier that day.
The fatalities were not just caused by the smoke and flames. According to a detailed account from a 38-year-old survivor who wishes to remain anonymous, whom we will refer to as Florence, the most vulnerable began to perish when tear gas was deployed into the women’s section.
Florence recounts, “Children started to die once tear gas was fired into our section. The prison was encircled by soldiers and police who, instead of assisting with the fire, resorted to shooting bullets and throwing tear gas at us. The tear gas intensified the fire, causing our eyes to sting as if we had been exposed to chili. It became nearly impossible to breathe.”
The circumstances surrounding the fire and the reported rapes are murky, with each side quick to shift blame onto others. Human rights organizations assert that rape is commonly used as a tactic of war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by both the M23 rebels and government forces. In this instance, however, Florence claims it was perpetrated by fellow inmates.
“Those attacking us were visibly prisoners. Some were barefoot. When they scaled the women’s prison roof, they called out the names of those they recognized. None of the assailants were armed or in uniform,” Florence explains.
She recounts hearing gunshots outside the prison from 11:00 PM onwards, with escaping prisoners falling victim to police brutality outside. “If a prisoner managed to flee, they were shot. I was on my knees praying for deliverance as bullets whizzed past. Some inmates who broke into the women’s section sought a safer escape route through a wall facing the outside where police weren’t usually stationed. However, this route was soon blocked by the fire.”
Florence observed the flames around 4:00 AM and spent hours trying to aid those dying around her. “People were perishing before our eyes. I couldn’t keep count. We attempted to revive them with water. Some women succumbed to suffocation from the fire and gas, while others died from heart attacks,” she shares with the BBC.
She criticizes the Congolese authorities for the significant loss of life, stating, “The state should have intervened when they saw the fire or worked to extinguish it.” The BBC has reached out to the Kinshasa government for a response to the survivors’ accounts but has not received one yet.
Florence notes that the women’s prison was eventually opened at 11:00, and she emerged with 18 other survivors without receiving any assistance. “Even the policemen we encountered didn’t inquire about the prisoners, or ask if anyone was injured or how we were,” she laments.
By that time, rebel forces had infiltrated parts of the city
**Tragedy Unfolds in Munzenze Prison: A Mother’s Desperate Plea for Justice**
In a heart-wrenching account shared with the BBC, Sifa, a humble peanut seller, relives the haunting moment when tragedy struck her and her young daughter, Esther, in the confines of Munzenze Prison. As Sifa recalls the harrowing events, her voice trembles with grief and disbelief.
“Escape, something fell on her. A bomb? I don’t know what. She died on the spot,” Sifa’s words echo with anguish, painting a vivid picture of the horrors that unfolded within the prison walls. Esther, a tender soul just learning to walk, was abruptly snatched away, leaving a void that can never be filled. Sifa describes her daughter as “without sin,” a beacon of innocence in a place plagued by darkness.
The circumstances that led Sifa, a devoted mother, to find herself incarcerated alongside her daughter remain shrouded in uncertainty. Accused of involvement in a crime she vehemently denies, Sifa languishes in a system where justice seems elusive, and the presumption of innocence is but a distant memory. The stark reality emerges – the veil of injustice casts a long shadow over Munzenze Prison and those ensnared within its walls.
As I delve deeper into the narrative of Sifa and her fellow survivors, a disturbing pattern emerges. The tales of wrongful imprisonment, unchecked power, and systemic neglect paint a grim portrait of a society where voices are silenced, and grievances go unanswered. The silence of the authorities speaks volumes, underscoring a profound disregard for the plight of those who have suffered immeasurable loss.
The echoes of 27th January reverberate through the corridors of Munzenze Prison, a date etched in sorrow and marked by unanswered questions. Sifa’s plea for justice falls on deaf ears, her cry for accountability lost in a sea of indifference. The tale of Munzenze Prison is a stark reminder of the deep-rooted issues that plague our society, a call to action that cannot be ignored.
As we navigate the complex web of power dynamics and political apathy that shroud this case, one thing remains clear – the pursuit of truth and justice cannot be abandoned. Sifa’s courage in speaking out serves as a beacon of hope amidst the darkness, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
In the pursuit of justice, we must not waver. The story of Munzenze Prison demands to be told, its victims’ voices clamoring to be heard. As we bear witness to the unfolding tragedy, let us remember that behind each statistic lies a human story, a life unjustly altered by the whims of fate.
The road to justice may be fraught with obstacles, but as long as there are those who refuse to remain silent, there remains a glimmer of hope. Sifa’s story is a testament to the enduring power of resilience
