Heart of Darkness: Women of Shabunda

W A S H I N G T O N -- Despite the horrors they have experienced, many women in Shabunda are willing to speak out frankly in order to bring attention and humanitarian aid to their community. As one said: "We have had hardships, and we want to let everyone know what we've gone through. We want them to know what is in our hearts and what happened. You can't keep a secret like this."

(Interviews conducted through a translator)

Ted Koppel: I would like any one of them to tell me what has happened to the women here.First woman: We really had some serious hardships, all of the women of Shabunda.

TK : What kind of difficulties?First woman: All the women from Shabunda were attacked by the Mai-Mais, they plundered our homes, they beat us, they raped us, and they hurt women.

TK: What happened to each of them?

Second woman: I was the commander's woman and 30 men violated me, as young as I am. At my young age, I don't have the strength to go with 30 men. It's very difficult.

TK: Is her husband still alive?Second woman: I wasn't married. I am still a student.

TK: So he was not her husband, he took her?Second woman: He took me by force.

TK: But why if he took her to be his wife, did he allow all those other men to rape her?Second woman: This is their system. They take one woman and share her among themselves.

TK: Is this done in the open or do they do go somewhere private?Second woman: In the open.

TK: Please tell her to forgive me, I know these are painful questions, but each time did she have to be forced to have sexual relations with him, or after a while did she just give in?Second woman: They forced me, I never gave in. I was with my husband when they came to get me. They took me, they raped me to the point of tearing my genitals.

TK: Do you know why they did that?Third woman: They just raped me, just to have sex. As they raped me, they tore me all the way to the back.

TK: How many men had relations with her?Third woman: Seven big men.

TK: Her husband, is he still alive?Third woman: He was alive when they took him. I have no idea where he is.