Congo's Women Warriors

500,000 women raped on one side and hundreds turned combatants on the other. These fighting women have little in common; some have degrees and others are illiterate, some joined the regular army, FARDC, whilst others joined rebel groups.

The conflict has been going on for 20 years in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At stake are the country’s precious minerals: gold, diamonds and a smartphone key-component, cobalt. It seems like the country is cursed by its natural wealth. The rich resources keep the chaos going on whilst the deprived population live in extreme poverty.

What motivates these women? Why do they choose to take up arms? And in doing so, do they liberate themselves from male domination?