The Rape Ordeal in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It details the scale of attacks, the strategic intent behind the violence to destabilize communities, and the systemic failures that allow impunity, while suggesting regional political pressure and gender-focused conflict resolution as remedies.

• Sexual violence in eastern DRC is used strategically as a weapon of war to instill fear, disrupt social fabrics, and punish local communities suspected of collaborating with rivals.
• The scale of sexual violence increased significantly between 2008 and 2009, with a UN report noting 8,000 victims in North and South Kivu provinces in 2009, nearly double the previous year's figures.
• Perpetrators of these crimes include the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR), original elements of the Interahamwe, Mayi Mayi, and various community-based or former militia groups.
• Impunity for sexual violence is driven by a lack of military discipline, insufficient legal protections for women, and an inefficient judicial system.
• While regional frameworks like the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) exist, they are considered ineffective without greater political pressure for the ratification and domestication of regional protocols.

APA

Katusya, J. M. (n.d.). The Rape Ordeal in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/the-rape-ordeal-in-eastern-democratic-republic-of-congo-drc

Chicago

Katusya, Jeniffer Muthangai. The Rape Ordeal in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/the-rape-ordeal-in-eastern-democratic-republic-of-congo-drc.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Katusya |first1=Jeniffer Muthangai |title=The Rape Ordeal in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/the-rape-ordeal-in-eastern-democratic-republic-of-congo-drc |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{katusyandrape, author = {Katusya, Jeniffer Muthangai}, title = {{The Rape Ordeal in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/iss-today/the-rape-ordeal-in-eastern-democratic-republic-of-congo-drc}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }