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“My grandmother’s biggest fear is that I might be pregnant or have contracted an infection. I don’t know what the future holds.”

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Their accounts shed light on how rape is a horrifically common aspect of the conflict in the DRC, often committed with impunity against women and girls of all ages. ‘My grandmother could do nothing’ In January, the rampaging AFC rebel coalition stormed Goma and clashed with the Congolese military. Electricity, basic services and water were cut off, … Read more

Accounts of child survivors shed light on surge of rape and sexual violence in conflict-torn DRC

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Sixteen-year-old Darkuna watched, terrified, as six gun-wielding men ransacked her home. “For God’s sake, what do you really want?” she cried. One of the fighters looked directly at the girl and responded: “I want you.” After stealing the family’s valuables, each of the armed men raped Darkuna and her 18-year-old sister. Their parents, helpless, were … Read more

Violence, weak management of public resources and “political contestation” have “intensified existing humanitarian needs,” it said

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Western nations have also sought to cool tempers. In a joint statement Thursday, the embassies of the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Netherlands and Norway in South Sudan, as well as the European Union delegation urged Kiir to reverse Machar’s arrest and called for a ceasefire between armed groups. Related articleInfants and young children are being raped … Read more

“The peace agreement is in shambles,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters Friday and called for de-escalation. He added that the clashes were “darkly reminiscent” of the earlier civil wars.

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Machar also condemned Uganda’s military intervention in a letter to the United Nations’ secretary-general on March 23, saying it violated the terms of the peace deal. South Sudan has never held a national election. Its current government is the result of a power-sharing agreement struck in 2018 between Kiir and Machar. The deal ended a five-year-civil war, which killed … Read more

The world’s youngest country fought for decades to govern itself. Now it’s on the cusp of another civil war

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A peace deal ending a conflict that killed tens of thousands in South Sudan is in danger of collapsing, raising fears that the world’s youngest nation — and one of its poorest — could swiftly lapse back into war. South Sudan split from the rest of Sudan in 2011 after decades of pro-independence unrest but has struggled … Read more