rape during the Congo civil wars

Rape during the Congo civil wars refers to multiple instances of widespread and systematic rape perpetrated against women, girls, and men by combatants from all factions involved in the ongoing conflicts that have plagued the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1994. These crimes are considered as part of a larger campaign of sexual violence which has been characterized as constituting genocidal rape or rape as a weapon of war. The perpetrators include Congolese government forces, Congolese rebel groups, Rwandan Hutu militias, Ugandan and Congolese Tutsi rebels, and various armed groups operating in the region. The victims often face severe physical and psychological trauma, including pregnancy resulting from rape and consequent social stigma. Despite international condemnation and efforts to address these crimes, rape remains pervasive in conflict zones across the country, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo.