DR Congo prisoners sentenced for raping inmates

Ten male prisoners in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been found guilty of raping female inmates and trying to escape during a riot at a prison.

The court in the city of Lubumbashi ordered them to serve an additional 15 years in prison and to pay $50,000 (£37,000) in compensation to the 19 victims who took the case to court.

The riot took place in Kasapa prison in 2020.

Although some were too frightened to give evidence, more than 30 women testified before a military prosecutor that they had been raped.

At least seven of the victims became pregnant and some contracted sexually transmitted infections - including HIV.

Most of the women are still serving prison sentences after being transferred to a different facility.

Source: BBC