The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a harrowing report detailing widespread sexual violence and child recruitment in the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). According to the agency, armed groups have raped scores of children, some as young as 12, while also forcing many into combat roles.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell sounded the alarm on Thursday, warning that violence against children has escalated to unprecedented levels in recent weeks. “In North and South Kivu provinces, we are receiving horrific reports of grave violations against children by parties to the conflict, including rape and other forms of sexual violence at levels surpassing anything we have seen in recent years,” she stated.
Russell shared the harrowing story of a mother whose six daughters, the youngest only 12 years old, were raped by armed men while searching for food. Reports from UNICEF’s partners indicate a fivefold increase in the number of rape cases treated across 42 health facilities between January 27 and February 2. Of those cases, 30 percent involved children, though actual figures are likely much higher due to the stigma and fear preventing many survivors from reporting.
The agency also warned that medical facilities are running out of essential drugs used to reduce the risk of HIV infection for sexual assault survivors.
Beyond the alarming surge in sexual violence, UNICEF has also documented widespread recruitment of children by armed groups. In just two weeks, more than 1,100 unaccompanied children have been identified in North and South Kivu provinces, separated from their families as they flee the violence. The agency fears that many of these children will be forcibly conscripted into combat.
Lianne Gutcher, UNICEF’s communication chief in the DRC, confirmed that 572 cases of rape were recorded within the reporting period, 170 of which involved children. “It is suspected that all parties to the conflict committed sexual violence,” she added.
The ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, fueled by decades of instability, has worsened in recent months as M23 rebels—allegedly backed by Rwanda—continue their offensive. M23, which claims to fight for the interests of ethnic Tutsis, captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu, last month and is now pushing further south. Thousands have been killed, and tens of thousands more have been displaced as fighting intensifies.
Despite repeated calls from regional leaders to halt the violence, M23 has expanded its military campaign in the resource-rich region, further complicating peace efforts.
Russell has demanded that all parties involved in the conflict immediately cease violations against children and ensure their protection. The situation remains dire, with escalating humanitarian needs and a growing risk of long-term trauma for affected children.
The international community is now under pressure to intervene and support efforts to protect the most vulnerable in the DRC’s conflict-ridden east.
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