Managing the battle space: Women on the frontline in eastern DRC

This report examines the survival strategies of women associated with non-state armed combatants in the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It argues that these women, often viewed as mere dependants, develop independent coping mechanisms and are frequently excluded from community support and formal Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programmes.

• Women associated with non-state armed combatants in South Kivu often operate independently of their partners for survival, as their 'husbands' are frequently absent due to combat. Their relationships with these combatants often serve as a survival mechanism rather than a source of primary support.
• The report identifies several coping strategies used by these women to survive in a precarious environment, including illegal trafficking of natural resources, cross-border smuggling, small-scale trade, and the use of traditional skills. Approximately 85% of the women interviewed in Bukavu and Uvira were engaged in small-scale businesses selling items such as second-hand clothes, cell phone accessories, and cereals.
• Women play a critical role as conduits in the illegal gold trade in the Kivus, moving minerals from mines to clients in Uvira and Bukavu. They are preferred over men for this role because they are perceived as more dependable and trustable. Some women use their affiliations with armed groups to access 'protected trade' networks for commodities like game meat, marijuana, and charcoal.
• Women associated with rebels or militias face significant social stigma and security risks, including the threat of being murdered, arrested, or having their homes burned. This often forces combatants to relocate their families to urban centers to conceal their identities. Consequently, these women are frequently excluded from community support and humanitarian assistance from NGOs.
• Formal Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programmes in the DRC, including the 2014 'Global Plan on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR III)', have failed to incorporate the interests of female dependants of non-state combatants. This gap leads some women to falsely represent themselves as combatants to access benefits, contributing to a 'DDR dependency syndrome' and a cycle where children of these women also join armed groups or trafficking networks.
• In South Kivu, non-state armed combatants are often viewed as a viable marriage option for young women seeking protection, status, or wealth. Marrying a combatant is seen as a gamble for a better life, as these individuals are perceived as being 'halfway to being government soldiers' and may eventually be integrated into the FARDC.

APA

Alusala, N. (2016). Managing the battle space: Women on the frontline in eastern DRC. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CentralAfricaReportNo4.pdf

Chicago

Alusala, Nelson. Managing the battle space: Women on the frontline in eastern DRC. Institute for Security Studies, 2016. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CentralAfricaReportNo4.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Alusala |first1=Nelson |title=Managing the battle space: Women on the frontline in eastern DRC |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=January 2016 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CentralAfricaReportNo4.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{alusala2016managing, author = {Alusala, Nelson}, title = {{Managing the battle space: Women on the frontline in eastern DRC}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2016}, month = jan, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CentralAfricaReportNo4.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }