Sophie, Countess of Wessex, has made history by becoming the first British royal to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Her visit to this African country aims to address the tragic consequences of s**ual and gender-based violence and provide support to survivors.

The 57-year-old sister-in-law of Queen Elizabeth embarked on this important journey on Monday, marking a significant milestone for the British royal family.

The primary focus of Her Highness’s visit is to tackle the devastating effects of s**ual and gender-based violence in conflict zones.

She aims to empower survivors and combat the stigma they face.

In a statement released by the Palace, it was highlighted that her trip was planned well in advance of the international conference on s**ual violence prevention in London, scheduled for November.

The conference aims to bring together religious groups and victims of s**ual violence to strengthen global action against conflict-related s**ual violence.

According to a 2020 report by Doctors Without Borders, over 10,000 victims of s**ual violence were treated in the Democratic Republic of Congo that year, with 19% of them being under the age of 18.

Sophie’s visit seeks to shed light on this alarming issue and contribute to the efforts in addressing it.

During her time in Congo, Sophie met with Sir Tariq Ahmed, the Prime Minister’s special representative working towards the prevention of s**ual violence in conflict.

They were accompanied by personnel from Trial International, an NGO dedicated to fighting impunity for transnational crimes and providing legal assistance to victims of conflict.

The Countess also engaged with international representatives who work on combating violence related to conflicts.

Additionally, Sophie had the opportunity to meet with South Kivu Governor Theo Nguabi at his office in Bukavu.

This meeting allowed her to discuss matters of mutual interest and gain further insights into the situation on the ground.

In a remarkable gesture, the Countess visited the Pole Pole Foundation, a non-governmental organization dedicated to protecting the endangered eastern lowland gorillas of Kahuzabiga National Park.

During her visit, Sophie engaged with the founder of the foundation, John Kahamuni Husey, and was presented with handmade gifts.

As per national tradition, she was given the Congolese name “Omoja Mama Louise.”

“Omoja” means union in Swahili, and it precedes her eldest daughter’s name, Louise.

Sophie, a mother of two daughters, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount VII, planted a sapling in commemoration of her visit.