September 2, 2025
Habygaelle Muzie, Communications Advisor, Ipas DRC

Since February 2025, the cities of Goma in North Kivu and Bukavu in South Kivu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, have been under the control of the M23 Movement, a rebel paramilitary group. 

This has led to a complete reshuffling of local authorities and widespread security instability. Between February and August 2025, over 10,000 cases of rape and sexual violence were reported in North and South Kivu provinces, according to UNICEF. Ipas DRC has also received reports of mass rapes, sexual mutilation, and assaults committed in conflict zones or during forced displacement. Access to sexual and reproductive health care has become extremely limited, if not absent, in some areas. Women and girls who survive rape are left without medical care, psychological support, or access to essential services such as emergency contraception or sexually transmitted infections. 

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/reproductive-health-in-drc-conflict-zones/