Hundreds of women were raped and then burned alive after Rwandan-backed rebels wreaked havoc in the Congolese city of Goma.
The atrocity took place at Munzenze prison last week, as rebels reportedly clashed with Congolese troops in deadly gun battles.
According to the UN, female prisoners were killed in the notoriously overcrowded prison after the men forced their way in.
While thousands of male criminals managed to escape the blockade, the women’s section was burned to the ground, said Vivian van de Perre, deputy head of the UN peacekeeping force in Goma.
It is unclear who is behind the massacre of female prisoners, as UN peacekeepers have been barred from entering the country by the rebels.
However, reports have suggested that at least 141 female prisoners were killed, along with 28 young children who had been in custody with their mothers.
Local reports claim that during the chaos, prisoners were shot by guards as they tried to stop the “massive explosion”.
A week after the “rampage”, the prison lies in ruins and is completely empty, with guards having abandoned their posts.
Much of the facility has been destroyed by fire, including the prison administration office. The prison was also looted after the escape.
Before the incident, Munzenze Central Prison housed around 4,400 prisoners, far beyond its capacity.
