In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), decades of brutal conflict and instability have intensified since January, plunging communities into turmoil. Thousands of people are fleeing as clashes intensify between the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and the rebel group known as the March 23 Movement (M23). The city of Goma is at the epicentre of this crisis, with women and girls bearing the brunt of the war.
Wracked by over 30 years of war and the devastation of colonial oppression, nearly seven million people remain internally displaced in eastern DRC – making it one of the world’s largest displacement crises, second only to Sudan. The UN has expressed grave concern about the rapid expansion of M23 in the country’s east, including North Kivu, and its advance into South Kivu, warning the real risk of provoking a wider regional conflict. The UN Group of Experts reported Rwanda’s reinforced support for M23, with both Rwanda and Uganda implicated in past armed conflicts and plundering Congolese resources.
Numerous other armed groups, Congolese and foreign forces, continue to battle for control. At the heart of much of this violence lies the profound governance crisis and the greed in the extraction of a country rich in resources. DRC is home to some of the world’s largest reserves of metals and rare earth minerals and as much as 70% of the world’s cobalt supply, critical to everyday electronics.
Recent events, such as the 28 January attack in Mweso and the 2 February 2024 explosion in Goma only worsened an already critical situation, causing loss of life and mass displacements. Humanitarian conditions have rapidly deteriorated. Women and girls bear the brunt of the conflict, facing increased risks of displacement and sexual violence, making them the most vulnerable among the displaced.
Life for feminist activists on the frontlines
An honest conversation with Crispine Ngena, Mariana Muliro, Gratias Kibanja, Zaina Bwale Godelive, and Deborah Thasi, young feminist activists from DRC working with frontline organisations in the refugee camps, sheds light on how the ongoing conflict has profoundly affected the lives of women and girls. While they are leading vital efforts, they are facing extreme challenges and need urgent support and action.
According to Crispine, there are now more displaced camps than inhabited villages in both North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, and Gratias shares; “The conflict has shattered our communities, leaving women and girls exposed to exploitation and violence.” Her collective, WAHDi (Women in Action for Human Dignity), is setting up vital resources in the eastern region camps, like sexual health clinics, educational programmes and training for income-generating activities – infrastructure so crucial in rebuilding shattered lives and fostering resilience.
Crispine and Mariana, coordinators of the young feminist-led ACNDC in eastern DRC, issued a call for global solidarity via social media in February, as bombings targeted civilians, including their office. They urgently sought protection for their team and the women and girls they support, both in displaced camps and in Goma, which faces severe food shortages.
They now anticipate a looming water crisis in an already precarious situation.
“What we are facing is extreme, with unmet basic needs like access to clean water. Before the arrival of the displaced, Goma already faced this water issue. Now, with the increased population due to displacement, the situation will worsen even further,” Crispine and Mariana shared.
For Zaina from Kongo Mwinda, a collective led entirely by women under 25, the focus has always been on women’s rights and reproductive health education so that women have the power to make informed decisions about their bodies. But in a year of acute crisis, her determination has been to support the vocational and financial training and digital security needed so that girls and women can reclaim their lives and rebuild their communities.
“Here there are no quality tents set up for displaced persons – entire families must live in just two square metres, sometimes without doors. Sexual violence has reached unprecedented levels.”
Displaced women and girls are struggling to adapt to their new environment riddled with the daily challenges of lack of water and sanitation, lack of menstrual hygiene, the heavy rain washing away temporary shelters, and the sheer levels of sexual violence in the community.
Zaina says there is a profound emotional toll on girls on the move. “Like a teenager who has spent her life studying who now finds herself in a displaced camp, unsure when this situation will ever end, this uncertainty causes severe psychological distress,” she says.
The city of Goma, although not on the frontlines, feels the impact of war, with explosions and battle sounds creating an atmosphere of terror for displaced individuals and households in peripheral neighbourhoods. Increasingly, people are losing their shelters, numerous human rights violations and sexual assaults have exponentially risen, and in these harshest of conditions, sexual exploitation has become the norm.
Deborah, a young feminist activist from Initiative Congo Debout, is running an alternative school in one of the camps and leads sessions in psycho-social care and reproductive sexual health. The toll is huge on her small collective. “In a single camp, you can find yourself with 12,000 households, but you only have the means to assist 50 people. We quickly become exposed to the anger of all those who cannot benefit from our aid. Women fear for their safety daily. Our efforts continue to be aimed at protecting them amidst ongoing instability,” she narrates.
With the few that they are able to support, Deborah emphasises their determination to develop systems and approaches for autonomous community support:“For us, it’s on holistic support, from healthcare to economic empowerment, to address the multifaceted needs of women in the camps. Every resource is carefully allocated – whether it’s for distributing dignity kits to young girls or establishing vital vocational training programmes,” she says.
Community organisations and collectives, particularly those led by young feminist and women, are at the frontlines of crisis response. WAHDi, ACNDC, Kongo Mwinda, and Initiative Congo Debout strive daily to support the immediate needs of girls and women while continuing to support education and economic opportunities. This daily struggle involves not only mitigating immediate threats but also addressing the root causes of instability. They weave between navigating continued complex challenges with little to no support for their vital work while overcoming systemic barriers that perpetuate violence.
Security is the biggest challenge for activists in DRC, with women and girls at constant risk of violence and exploitation. Ensuring their safety requires continuous resources and support. Feminist activists call for training on protection, including human rights advocacy, during crises.
International call for feminist solidarity
The Global Resilience Fund, through Purposeful, has moved rapid-response emergency grants to these four organisations.
“With the support we receive, we focus on providing essential healthcare and psychosocial support to survivors of violence. Every fund allocation is meticulously planned to maximise impact. Our programmes also include distributing dignity kits to ensure women have essential hygiene supplies,” Mariana explains.
As the crisis persists, urgent international attention and action are needed. From securing life-saving supplies to promoting long-term peace-building initiatives, the situation in eastern DRC calls for global solidarity and concerted efforts.The power of young feminist organising is critical in the current humanitarian response and long-term peacebuilding efforts in DRC. It is our collective responsibility to resource and support them.
Feature photo by World Vision in a recent call for humanitarian aid.
