A huge number of Victims of violence in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo came to Kinshasa to see Pope Francis, visiting the country.
After hearing testimonies from people who have experienced abuse and sexual violence in all its forms, he condemned “brutal atrocities that shame all humanity”.
An interpreter speaking next to a woman who had a history of abuse reviewed that this woman was among others who were held as sex slaves and suffered extremist abuse every day from the age of 16. For example, they were forced to eat the flesh of slain men.
Another testimony from a 16-year-old boy told how his father was killed and his mother abducted.
Furthermore, Those present, from the eastern provinces, brought with them weapons used by their executioners.
A representative of the victims of this violence called for an end to the abuse in Ituri and the punishment of those responsible for these crimes so that they can live in dignity.