Reintegrating Ex-combatants in Vulnerable Environments: Evidence from Central African Republic, the

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) examines the economic reintegration of ex-combatants in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan. It highlights the critical role of viable livelihood opportunities in preventing re-militarisation and discusses the systemic barriers—including poor infrastructure, predatory taxation, and limited credit—that hinder the transition from informal to formal economic activities.

• Ex-combatants in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan engaged in diverse economic activities to sustain themselves, primarily through small businesses in the informal sector. Common activities included agriculture, fishing, hunting, logging, construction, motorcycle taxi businesses, artisanal mining, and cross-border trading. The transition to the formal sector was generally prevented by prohibitive costs and procedures.
• The use of reintegration or reinsertion kits varied among ex-combatants; while some used them for direct income generation, a significant number sold the kits to fund short-term consumption or invest in ventures better suited to their personal circumstances.
• Infrastructure and governance failures significantly hindered economic growth. Dilapidated roads made transporting agricultural produce to urban markets difficult, and cross-border traders faced frequent checkpoints, fees, and delays. Furthermore, ex-combatants faced a predatory and complex tax system and a lack of commercial banking credit for small businesses, often relying on family and friends for loans.
• In areas outside government control, particularly in the DRC and CAR, mineral wealth provided opportunities for wealth accumulation through artisanal mining, though these activities were often illegal and risky. Armed groups and government soldiers frequently 'taxed' these ex-combatants to maintain control over mineral-rich areas.
• Livelihood choices were often correlated with marital and family status. Married male ex-combatants with children typically pursued stable and legitimate options, whereas young male ex-combatants were more likely to engage in riskier activities such as mineral smuggling, artisanal mining, the motorcycle taxi sector, or criminal activities and militia membership.

APA

Lamb, G. (n.d.). Reintegrating Ex-combatants in Vulnerable Environments: Evidence from Central African Republic, the. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/reintegrating-ex-combatants-in-vulnerable-environments-evidence-from-central-african-republic-the

Chicago

Lamb, Guy. Reintegrating Ex-combatants in Vulnerable Environments: Evidence from Central African Republic, the. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/reintegrating-ex-combatants-in-vulnerable-environments-evidence-from-central-african-republic-the.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lamb |first1=Guy |title=Reintegrating Ex-combatants in Vulnerable Environments: Evidence from Central African Republic, the |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/reintegrating-ex-combatants-in-vulnerable-environments-evidence-from-central-african-republic-the |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lambndreintegrating, author = {Lamb, Guy}, title = {{Reintegrating Ex-combatants in Vulnerable Environments: Evidence from Central African Republic, the}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/iss-today/reintegrating-ex-combatants-in-vulnerable-environments-evidence-from-central-african-republic-the}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }