UN warns of increase in human trafficking and sexual slavery in the Democratic Republic of Congo

KINSHASA: United Nations experts warned on Thursday of a significant increase in human trafficking for sexual exploitation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), exacerbated by ongoing conflict and displacement.

The east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, known for its mineral resources, has been a hotbed of conflict for three decades involving both local militias and foreign armed groups, dating back to the conflicts of the 1990s.

The situation has recently been exacerbated by the resurgence of the M23 rebels, who have seized large areas of territory and almost completely encircled Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. The violence has claimed numerous victims and forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee.

In a statement, experts commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council revealed alarming statistics. “We are appalled by the numbers reported. Between August 2023 and June 2024, at least 531 victims of conflict-related sexual violence were documented in the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, Tanganyika and Maniema,” they said.

The experts stressed that many of the cases involved displaced women and girls abducted during everyday activities such as foraging, collecting firewood or farming. These individuals were victims of sexual violence, exploitation or slavery. In addition, the involvement of security and defence forces in these crimes was identified as a serious concern.

The experts raised additional concerns about the closure of the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, known as MONUSCO. “We are concerned that with the withdrawal of MONUSCO, important components of the early warning systems for human rights violations will no longer function,” they stressed.

MONUSCO recently completed its withdrawal from South Kivu and is now scheduled to withdraw from North Kivu and Ituri, the last remaining active provinces. However, the exact timetable has not been set. The Congolese authorities supported MONUSCO’s withdrawal after 25 years, citing its ineffectiveness in combating armed groups.

According to United Nations estimates, there are currently around seven million displaced people living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 2.8 million of whom live in North Kivu alone. This highlights the serious humanitarian crisis that is emerging in the region.