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Thousands of women have been victims of violent gang rapes in the
eastern Democratic Republic of Congo since Hutu rebels, known as the
Interahamwe, fled Rwanda after the genocide in 1994. The DRC was
officially at war from 1998-2003, with seven neighboring countries
invading the vast nation at one point. As many as 20 rebel military
factions remain, preying upon poor villagers, especially women, for
their survival. The rebels pillage, rape women, steal harvests and
burn villages periodically to maintain their own supplies.