Women chant "We'll not remain bowed or live in misery!

Hundreds of women who marched through the streets of Beni in North Kivu, called for greater international attention to the violence that severely affected women in the conflict-hit region.

The match was part of the activities for the 2026 International Women’s Day in the DR Congo.

Footage captured on Tuesday March 10, 2026, showed female police officers who marched and chanted.

Other women protesters in traditional clothing walked through the city with banners.

“The most important message today is that we are drawing the attention of international public opinion to what is happening in our region,” said protester Nicole Lufungi. “This activity is therefore a cry of alarm.”

“The situation of women in general is catastrophic. There are women today who are displaced and living in very difficult conditions. Some have been raped by rebels. Others have been mutilated, and some have been killed,” Lufungi added.

Organisers said the march reflected Congolese women’s resilience after years of insecurity.

“It is true that for five years we did not have a march because of the atrocities taking place in our city. But today, that woman is resilient. She does not want to remain bowed down or live in misery,” said Ingrid Kathungu, a gender officer with a local women’s organisation.

Clashes continued in eastern DRC despite a ceasefire brokered by the United States and an economic agreement. Kinshasa repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel movement, an allegation Kigali denied.

On March 2, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the Rwandan Defence Force and four senior commanders, accusing them of violating the Washington Accords by continuing to support M23 operations, including the capture of the eastern Congolese city of Uvira in December.