Fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is worsening gender-based violence against women

In early 2025, the March 23 Movement (M23) armed group seized control of Goma and then Bukavu, two major cities in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Civilians are caught in a devastating humanitarian crisis involving sexual and gender-based violence. This kind of violence not only contributes to forced displacement, but displaced women are also more at risk of gender-based violence during times of ongoing fighting.

Furthermore, signs point to gendered violence worsening: in just the last two weeks of February 2025, 895 reports of rape were made to humanitarian workers. Previous research has shown that sexual and gender-based violence continues through periods of political transition, and worsens when state militaries are weaker than rebel forces.

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