In the escalating conflict of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where sexual violence and warfare persist, women are increasingly taking up arms as members of the pro-government Wazalendo militia. Their involvement reflects both a desperate bid for self-protection and a broader shift in the dynamics of the region’s armed struggle. The group, originally formed to counter rebel threats, now includes women who cite the need to safeguard their communities amid rising atrocities. Their participation underscores the deepening humanitarian crisis and the evolving role of civilians in the country’s prolonged instability.
As war and sexual violence rage in eastern DRC, women are joining pro-government Wazalendo fighters to defend themselves
