• Metascholar News Portal
• Africa , News
• February 25, 2025
• 307 views
• 3 minutes Read

Eastern Congo Conflict: Children Endure Deadly Violence and Sexual Assault

In eastern Congo, violence continues to escalate as clashes between army forces and M23 rebels intensify, with reports emerging of unspeakable atrocities committed against civilians, including children. Recent accounts detail a harrowing incident near Goma, where, amid the rebel advance supported by Rwanda, retreating army soldiers reportedly stormed the residence of Suzanne Amisi Wilonja, located near the city’s airport. Eyewitnesses claim that in the ensuing chaos, the soldiers looted the home and fired indiscriminately, fatally shooting Wilonja’s 10-year-old son, Sylvain, in the head. The family was trapped amid ongoing street clashes that delayed access to medical care, and by the time help arrived the following morning, Sylvain had already succumbed to his injuries. “We were so terrified that we couldn’t even bring him to the hospital because soldiers were crowded right outside our door,” Wilonja tearfully recounted to Reuters, her voice heavy with grief as she described the ordeal of watching her son die. Despite requests for comment, an army spokesperson declined to address the incident, and Reuters was unable to independently verify all details of the account. The situation in the mineral-rich region is deteriorating rapidly. The United Nations has raised alarms over an alarming rise in child recruitment, abductions, killings, and sexual violence committed by both M23 rebels and retreating soldiers. The M23, whose stated aim is to restore order and security in the area, have expanded their territorial control to unprecedented levels, yet their actions have sparked widespread condemnation. Last week, the UN Human Rights Office reported that M23 fighters had summarily executed three children in Bukavu, the region’s second-largest city, which fell to rebel forces earlier this month. Although an M23 spokesperson denied the allegations, citing the difficulty of obtaining precise casualty figures amid ongoing fighting, he acknowledged the pervasive climate of terror in Bukavu, remarking, “There is a climate of terror that makes it difficult for parents to testify. One child is enough – we don’t need numbers.” Further compounding the crisis, a military prosecutor has leveled serious accusations against fleeing soldiers, charging them with rape, murder, and other war crimes. The dual assault by both government forces and rebel groups has left local communities in a state of profound fear and uncertainty. As the violence shows no signs of abating, international organizations and human rights groups continue to call for urgent intervention and accountability, emphasizing that the suffering of innocent civilians especially children must not be overlooked. The tragic death of Sylvain and…