Women take up arms as sexual violence escalates in eastern DRC

As armed conflict continues to rage in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a growing number of women are taking up arms and joining pro-government Wazalendo militia groups, according to Al Jazeera reporting from the region.

Women interviewed said they had chosen to join the fighters as a direct response to the sexual violence that has accompanied the fighting in the region, describing a need to defend themselves and their communities where state protection has been limited or absent.

The Wazalendo, a coalition of armed groups aligned with the Congolese government, have been fighting rebel forces in the mineral-rich eastern provinces of the country, an area that has experienced recurring waves of conflict for decades.

A pattern of wartime sexual violence

Sexual violence has long been documented as a feature of the conflict in eastern DRC, with human rights organisations repeatedly raising concerns about attacks on women and girls by multiple armed groups operating in the region. Local activists have said impunity for such attacks remains widespread.

The decision by some women to join armed groups reflects both the severity of the threat they face and limited confidence in existing protection mechanisms. The report did not provide overall figures on how many women have joined the Wazalendo ranks.