Congolese Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege issued a grave warning on Wednesday, denouncing the widespread and systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Speaking before the European Parliament, Mukwege painted a dire picture of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in North Kivu, where violence has sharply intensified in recent months amid renewed clashes between government forces and various armed groups.
“We had 10,000 cases of sexual violence last year alone,” Mukwege stated, “and between 30 to 35 percent of those were rapes committed against children. This is beyond any red line that should ever be crossed.” Dr. Mukwege, a gynecologist and renowned human rights advocate, is the founder of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, which for over two decades has treated tens of thousands of women and girls who are survivors of rape and other forms of sexual violence in the region. He has long argued that the violence is not incidental but part of a deliberate strategy by armed groups to terrorize communities and assert control over mineral-rich territories.
The eastern DRC—particularly the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri—has been plagued by conflict involving over 120 armed factions, many of which are vying for control of valuable resources such as gold, coltan, and cobalt. The resurgence of fighting in recent months, especially involving the M23 rebel group and other militias, has led to a surge in civilian casualties, mass displacement, and reports of widespread sexual violence. The United Nations has repeatedly raised alarms about the worsening situation. A recent UNHCR report confirmed that over 7 million people are now internally displaced in the DRC, the highest figure in Africa, and humanitarian organizations report significant barriers to accessing affected populations due to ongoing insecurity.
In Strasbourg, Mukwege called on the European Union to take a stronger stance in support of peace negotiations and the protection of civilians. He urged EU lawmakers to push for sanctions against armed groups and their international backers, as well as to increase support for local justice mechanisms that can hold perpetrators accountable. Dr. Mukwege, who won the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize alongside Yazidi activist Nadia Murad, has long campaigned for global recognition of sexual violence in conflict as a war crime and a threat to international peace and security. “There will be no lasting peace in the Congo,” he warned, “until impunity ends and justice begins.”
