Kinshasa, February 9th, 2026 (DRC).- The denunciation of domestic violence has been recommended to female victims to combat depression and mental stress in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), during discussions on Monday in Kinshasa, the country’s capital, in an open forum. « We have received anonymous testimonies. Where we live, as African women, the message is clear: you don’t leave your home because of betrayal, even if it’s the umpteenth time. Many women who are victims of domestic violence develop depression and mental stress. Women must denounce abuse to protect themselves from mental problems », has declared Kikina Mungul Diaka, visionary of the ‘Coup de gueule de la femme’ (Women’s outcry) forum.
According to discussions on this forum, when a woman agrees to testify and to denounce, she enables others to recognise themselves and seek refuge from such violence.
« Society often thinks that a divorced woman deserves to suffer. A relationship that destroys a woman instead of building her up becomes toxic for her. Keeping quiet does not heal, » has said Ms Mungul Diaka, before adding that every day is a victory when we denounce abuse by refusing to live with it any longer. The domestic violence in DRC is a widespread plague, affecting nearly half of women in relationships.
They are exacerbated by armed conflict, poverty and socio-cultural norms that normalise violence, often making the home a dangerous place. These acts of violence can cause deep psychological trauma for women, who are often isolated and without access to care. The lack of specific laws is also a major obstacle for women who are victims of this type of violence.