DRC: cases of rape reported to Lubumbashi prison

An NGO denounces cases of rape in Kasapa prison in Lubumbashi (illustrative image).

FEDERICO SCOPPA / AFP

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2 min

The NGO Evangelical Non-Violent Action Group (Ganve) denounces cases of rape with violence against prisoners in Kasapa prison in Lubumbashi.

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With our correspondent in Lubumbashi,

Denise Maheho

According to this NGO, it all started after the fire last weekend of one of the prison buildings by angry prisoners, some of whom tried to escape.

Part of the dormitories having been destroyed, prisoners were grouped together with female prisoners.

Today these women, about fifty, would be at the mercy of these prisoners.

Since this weekend, the female inmates of Kasapa prison in Lubumbashi no longer have a dormitory and no means of communication.

The phones were taken from them by a self-proclaimed prisoner leader of the inmates.

According to master Emmanuel Kifungo, from the NGO Ganve, these women are systematically raped.

The female inmates found themselves homeless so now they share the same yard as male inmates.

The female prisoners have the choice between the machete, that is to say death, and taking action with their torturers.

 "

A situation that revolts some women in Lubumbashi, such as Sylvie Nkolomoni, president of the NGO for women's rights "Voices of Knowledge": " 

We build, that we physically separate these women from the men.

As long as these women are not separated, even if you give them drugs to fight against sexually transmitted diseases, they are going to fall into the same scenario and it will not change much.

"

For his part, the director of Kasapa prison speaks more of a simple threat of rape on female prisoners.

He adds that discussions are underway to improve their conditions of detention after the destruction of their dormitory.

The prison authority says it has not received any information about rape.

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  • DRC