Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC

What the report says

Women in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo are joining the pro-government Wazalendo fighters as violence and sexual abuse continue to affect communities in the region, according to Al Jazeera. The piece describes a conflict setting in which some women say they are taking up arms to help protect themselves and their neighborhoods amid insecurity linked to the broader war.

The report places the development in eastern DRC, an area that has faced years of armed conflict involving multiple militias and persistent abuse against civilians. In this context, the decision by some women to align with an armed group reflects both the depth of local fear and the limited protection many residents feel they have available. The article does not provide precise figures on how many women have joined or where all of them are based.

Al Jazeera also notes that Wazalendo itself has been accused of serious human rights violations, including gang rape. That detail adds complexity to the story: a force presented by some supporters as a defense against insecurity is also linked to allegations of abuse. More broadly, the report underscores how sexual violence remains a central and devastating feature of the conflict in eastern DRC, shaping choices made by civilians trying to survive.