Democratic Republic of Congo: Bitondo Nyumba

Bitondo Nyumba, a 56-year old widow and mother of four, died as a result of injuries caused by an attack and rape by government army soldiers in May 2005.

Bitondo Nyumba, a widow and mother of four, was attacked on 11 May 2005, in her home in the village of Katungulu, South-Kivu province, by seven FARDC government army soldiers. She was beaten and raped. While this was happening, the soldiers looted the family home.

The attack caused life-threatening injuries. After an operation in the state hospital at Nundu, doctors reportedly suspended treatment because Bitondo Nyumba’s family could not afford to pay. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) Arche d’Alliance and Solidarité des Femmes Activistes pour la Défense des Droits Humains (Solidarity Movement of Women Human Rights Activists, SOFAD), then arranged for Bitondo Nyumba to be taken to the general hospital in Uvira, and paid for her second operation.

When her condition became more stable, Bitondo Nyumba was transferred to Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, South-Kivu province. This hospital is subsidised by international humanitarian funds and medical treatment and reconstructive surgery are provided free. Sadly, on 21 June 2005 Bitondo Nyumba died, due to an infection because reportedly her injuries were not properly treated early on.

Two soldiers were arrested in August 2005 in connection with the rape, but were released after a few weeks without explanation. Bitondo Nyumba’s family have had to move to another village, following threats against them by soldiers from the same brigade as the alleged perpetrators. The threats – after the family laid a legal complaint – reportedly included menaces such as ‘You are the ones who accused us. Keep your mouths shut.’

Tens of thousands of women and girls have been raped during the DRC conflict, yet hardly any of the perpetrators have been brought to justice. This climate of impunity encourages further rapes. Rape survivors also face immense obstacles in seeking medical treatment. Inadequately resourced and often subjected to intimidation, women’s NGOs are often the only support available.

Bitondo Nyumba, a 56-year old widow and mother of four, died as a result of injuries caused by an attack and rape by government army soldiers in May 2005.

Follow up

On 5 September 2008, a military tribunal sitting in Uvira sentenced three soldiers to death for the rape of Bitondo Nyumba, and ordered them to pay $20,000 in compensation. The three men are still serving with their unit in another part of the country. Local NGOs will continue to press for their arrest. Though AI welcomes the news that the perpetrators in this case are to be brought to justice, we remain opposed to the use of the death sentence in any circumstances.

According to AI's DRC research team, "AI's appeals and solidarity actions in this case (including especially by featuring Bitondo Nyumba in Greetings Cards campaigns) over the past three years, in combination with continual lobbying by local NGOs, has helped secure this judgement. Normally a case like this would not have been investigated and would have been forgotten long ago."