{"id":5744,"date":"2026-09-26T17:01:20","date_gmt":"2026-09-26T17:01:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744"},"modified":"2026-09-26T17:01:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-26T17:01:20","slug":"women-take-up-arms-as-sexual-violence-ravages-eastern-drc-african-union","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744","title":{"rendered":"Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='booster-block booster-read-block'>\n                <div class=\"twp-read-time\">\n                \t<i class=\"booster-icon twp-clock\"><\/i> <span>Read Time:<\/span>21 Second                <\/div>\n\n            <\/div><p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<header class=\"article-header\"\/>\n<p class=\"article__subhead u-inline \">As war and sexual violence rage in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), women are joining pro-government Wazalendo fighters to defend their communities. However, the armed group itself faces serious accusations of human rights abuses, including gang rape.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-info m--t-20 m--desktop-b-30 m--b-mobile-20\">\n<div class=\"article-dates\">\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Published On 26 Sep 2026<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">26 Sep 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share dark-view\" data-testid=\"rich-share\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__divider\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__button-wrapper\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"rich-share__button row\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><\/p>\n<p>Share Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC on social media<\/p>\n<p><svg class=\"icon icon--share-nodes icon--primary icon--24 \" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><title>share-nodes<\/title><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M17 22a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.125-.875A2.9 2.9 0 0 1 14 19q0-.15.075-.7L7.05 14.2A2.97 2.97 0 0 1 5 15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.125-.875A2.9 2.9 0 0 1 2 12q0-1.25.875-2.125A2.9 2.9 0 0 1 5 9a2.97 2.97 0 0 1 2.05.8l7.025-4.1a1.7 1.7 0 0 1-.062-.338A5 5 0 0 1 14 5q0-1.25.875-2.125A2.9 2.9 0 0 1 17 2q1.25 0 2.125.875T20 5t-.875 2.125A2.9 2.9 0 0 1 17 8a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.05-.8l-7.025 4.1q.05.176.063.337Q8 11.801 8 12q0 .2-.013.363t-.062.337l7.025 4.1A2.97 2.97 0 0 1 17 16q1.25 0 2.125.875T20 19t-.875 2.125A2.9 2.9 0 0 1 17 22\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"rich-share__social-text\">Share<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"google-preferred-source\"><button class=\"google-preferred-source__button\" aria-label=\"Add Al Jazeera on Google\" data-testid=\"google-preferred-source-button\"><svg class=\"icon icon--google icon--primary icon--16 google-preferred-source__google-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><title>google<\/title><g><path fill=\"#fbbb00\" d=\"m6.99 13.878-.627 2.339-2.29.048A8.96 8.96 0 0 1 3 12c0-1.492.363-2.9 1.006-4.14l2.04.375.893 2.026A5.4 5.4 0 0 0 6.649 12c0 .66.12 1.293.34 1.877\"\/><path fill=\"#518ef8\" d=\"M20.843 10.318Q21 11.137 21 12q-.001.968-.197 1.879a9 9 0 0 1-3.168 5.14v-.001l-2.569-.131-.363-2.27a5.36 5.36 0 0 0 2.308-2.738h-4.813v-3.56h8.645\"\/><path fill=\"#28b446\" d=\"M17.634 19.018A8.96 8.96 0 0 1 12 21a9 9 0 0 1-7.928-4.735l2.917-2.387a5.35 5.35 0 0 0 7.713 2.74z\"\/><path fill=\"#f14336\" d=\"M17.744 5.072 14.83 7.459a5.353 5.353 0 0 0-7.89 2.802l-2.933-2.4A9 9 0 0 1 11.999 3c2.184 0 4.187.778 5.745 2.072\"\/><\/g><\/svg><span class=\"google-preferred-source__text\">Add Al Jazeera on Google<\/span><\/button><button tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"See more of Al Jazeera\u2019s trusted journalism by adding us as a preferred source on Google.\" class=\"tooltip-accessible_trigger\"><svg class=\"icon icon--info icon--white icon--16 google-preferred-source__info-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><title>info<\/title><path class=\"icon-main-color\" d=\"M12 0a12 12 0 1 0 0 24 12 12 0 0 0 0-24Zm-.226 3.225a2.039 2.039 0 0 1 2.155 1.924v.193a1.998 1.998 0 0 1-2.155 2.149 2.029 2.029 0 0 1-2.146-2.15 2.039 2.039 0 0 1 1.955-2.122h.193l-.002.006Zm3.227 15.525a.75.75 0 0 1-.752.75H9.75a.75.75 0 0 1-.75-.75v-1.5a.75.75 0 0 1 .752-.75h.748V12h-.75a.75.75 0 0 1-.75-.75v-1.5a.75.75 0 0 1 .752-.751h3a.75.75 0 0 1 .75.752v6.75h.75a.75.75 0 0 1 .75.749L15 18.75Z\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/video\/newsfeed\/2026\/9\/26\/09-26-drc-women-fighters-sv-mp4?traffic_source=rss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n        <div class=\"booster-block booster-reactions-block\">\n            <div class=\"twp-reactions-icons\">\n                \n                <div class=\"twp-reacts-wrap\">\n                    <a react-data=\"be-react-1\" post-id=\"5744\" class=\"be-face-icons un-reacted\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/plugins\/booster-extension\/\/assets\/icon\/happy.svg\" alt=\"Happy\" title=\"\">\n                    <\/a>\n                    <div class=\"twp-reaction-title\">\n                        Happy                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"twp-count-percent\">\n                                                    <span style=\"display: none;\" class=\"twp-react-count\">0<\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"twp-react-percent\"><span>0<\/span> %<\/span>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"twp-reacts-wrap\">\n                    <a react-data=\"be-react-2\" post-id=\"5744\" class=\"be-face-icons un-reacted\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/plugins\/booster-extension\/\/assets\/icon\/sad.svg\" alt=\"Sad\" title=\"\">\n                    <\/a>\n                    <div class=\"twp-reaction-title\">\n                        Sad                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"twp-count-percent\">\n                                                    <span style=\"display: none;\" class=\"twp-react-count\">0<\/span>\n                                                                        <span class=\"twp-react-percent\"><span>0<\/span> %<\/span>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"twp-reacts-wrap\">\n                    <a react-data=\"be-react-3\" post-id=\"5744\" class=\"be-face-icons un-reacted\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/plugins\/booster-extension\/\/assets\/icon\/excited.svg\" alt=\"Excited\" title=\"\">\n                    <\/a>\n                    <div class=\"twp-reaction-title\">\n                        Excited                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"twp-count-percent\">\n                                                    <span style=\"display: none;\" class=\"twp-react-count\">0<\/span>\n                                                                        <span class=\"twp-react-percent\"><span>0<\/span> %<\/span>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"twp-reacts-wrap\">\n                    <a react-data=\"be-react-6\" post-id=\"5744\" class=\"be-face-icons un-reacted\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/plugins\/booster-extension\/\/assets\/icon\/sleepy.svg\" alt=\"Sleepy\" title=\"\">\n                    <\/a>\n                    <div class=\"twp-reaction-title\">\n                        Sleepy                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"twp-count-percent\">\n                                                    <span style=\"display: none;\" class=\"twp-react-count\">0<\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"twp-react-percent\"><span>0<\/span> %<\/span>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"twp-reacts-wrap\">\n                    <a react-data=\"be-react-4\" post-id=\"5744\" class=\"be-face-icons un-reacted\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/plugins\/booster-extension\/\/assets\/icon\/angry.svg\" alt=\"Angry\" title=\"\">\n                    <\/a>\n                    <div class=\"twp-reaction-title\">Angry<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"twp-count-percent\">\n                                                    <span style=\"display: none;\" class=\"twp-react-count\">0<\/span>\n                                                                        <span class=\"twp-react-percent\"><span>0<\/span> %<\/span>\n                        \n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"twp-reacts-wrap\">\n                    <a react-data=\"be-react-5\" post-id=\"5744\" class=\"be-face-icons un-reacted\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/plugins\/booster-extension\/\/assets\/icon\/surprise.svg\" alt=\"Surprise\" title=\"\">\n                    <\/a>\n                    <div class=\"twp-reaction-title\">Surprise<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"twp-count-percent\">\n                                                    <span style=\"display: none;\" class=\"twp-react-count\">0<\/span>\n                                                                        <span class=\"twp-react-percent\"><span>0<\/span> %<\/span>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n    ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As war and sexual violence rage in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), women are joining pro-government Wazalendo fighters to defend their communities. However, the armed group itself faces serious accusations of human rights abuses, including gang rape. Published On 26 Sep 202626 Sep 2026 Share Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5745,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_templately_pack_id":"","_templately_imported_at":"","_templately_source":"","_templately_import_session_id":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-international-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.2 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As war and sexual violence rage in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), women are joining pro-government Wazalendo fighters to defend their communities. However, the armed group itself faces serious accusations of human rights abuses, including gang rape.Published On 26 Sep 202626 Sep 2026Share Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"author\" content=\"sotnews.agency\"\/>\n\t<meta name=\"google-site-verification\" content=\"DyuKsq2YVBcUDt6Tue7uPzBTpz2Jqr8UDGYji6Arsx4\" \/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"All in One SEO (AIOSEO) 5.0.2\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"sotnews.agency - Independent, Fearless, and Credible Journalism .\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union - sotnews.agency\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As war and sexual violence rage in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), women are joining pro-government Wazalendo fighters to defend their communities. However, the armed group itself faces serious accusations of human rights abuses, including gang rape.Published On 26 Sep 202626 Sep 2026Share Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/cropped-cropped-LOGFO.png\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:image:secure_url\" content=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/cropped-cropped-LOGFO.png\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-09-26T17:01:20+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-26T17:01:20+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/IPNNEWS.MEDIA\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union - sotnews.agency\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"As war and sexual violence rage in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), women are joining pro-government Wazalendo fighters to defend their communities. However, the armed group itself faces serious accusations of human rights abuses, including gang rape.Published On 26 Sep 202626 Sep 2026Share Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/cropped-cropped-LOGFO.png\" \/>\n\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"aioseo-schema\">\n\t\t\t{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?p=5744#blogposting\",\"name\":\"Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union - sotnews.agency\",\"headline\":\"Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/author\\\/ipnnews-media#author\"},\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/image-1790439858.jpg\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1080},\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-26T17:01:20+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-26T17:01:20+00:00\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?p=5744#webpage\"},\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?p=5744#webpage\"},\"articleSection\":\"International News\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?p=5744#breadcrumblist\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/#listItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/\",\"nextItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?cat=11#listItem\",\"name\":\"International News\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?cat=11#listItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"International News\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?cat=11\",\"nextItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?p=5744#listItem\",\"name\":\"Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union\"},\"previousItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/#listItem\",\"name\":\"Home\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?p=5744#listItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union\",\"previousItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?cat=11#listItem\",\"name\":\"International News\"}}]},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"sotnews.agency\",\"description\":\"Independent, Fearless, and Credible Journalism .\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/cropped-cropped-LOGFO.png\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?p=5744\\\/#organizationLogo\",\"width\":705,\"height\":304},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?p=5744\\\/#organizationLogo\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/IPNNEWS.MEDIA\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/author\\\/ipnnews-media#author\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/author\\\/ipnnews-media\",\"name\":\"sotnews.agency\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?p=5744#authorImage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/2216b0b9814e915fc1132814ba1718b23bb00f899e98887387912e723380a581?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"width\":96,\"height\":96,\"caption\":\"sotnews.agency\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?p=5744#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?p=5744\",\"name\":\"Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union - sotnews.agency\",\"description\":\"As war and sexual violence rage in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), women are joining pro-government Wazalendo fighters to defend their communities. However, the armed group itself faces serious accusations of human rights abuses, including gang rape.Published On 26 Sep 202626 Sep 2026Share Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/#website\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?p=5744#breadcrumblist\"},\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/author\\\/ipnnews-media#author\"},\"creator\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/author\\\/ipnnews-media#author\"},\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/image-1790439858.jpg\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?p=5744\\\/#mainImage\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1080},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/?p=5744#mainImage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-26T17:01:20+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-26T17:01:20+00:00\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/\",\"name\":\"sotnews.agency\",\"description\":\"Independent, Fearless, and Credible Journalism .\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sotnews.agency\\\/#organization\"}}]}\n\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO -->\n\n","aioseo_head_json":{"title":"Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union - sotnews.agency","description":"As war and sexual violence rage in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), women are joining pro-government Wazalendo fighters to defend their communities. However, the armed group itself faces serious accusations of human rights abuses, including gang rape.Published On 26 Sep 202626 Sep 2026Share Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC","canonical_url":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744","robots":"max-image-preview:large","keywords":"","webmasterTools":{"google-site-verification":"DyuKsq2YVBcUDt6Tue7uPzBTpz2Jqr8UDGYji6Arsx4","miscellaneous":""},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744#blogposting","name":"Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union - sotnews.agency","headline":"Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/author\/ipnnews-media#author"},"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/#organization"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-1790439858.jpg","width":1920,"height":1080},"datePublished":"2026-09-26T17:01:20+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-26T17:01:20+00:00","inLanguage":"en-US","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744#webpage"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744#webpage"},"articleSection":"International News"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/#listItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/","nextItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/sotnews.agency\/?cat=11#listItem","name":"International News"}},{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/sotnews.agency\/?cat=11#listItem","position":2,"name":"International News","item":"https:\/sotnews.agency\/?cat=11","nextItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744#listItem","name":"Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union"},"previousItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/#listItem","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744#listItem","position":3,"name":"Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union","previousItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/sotnews.agency\/?cat=11#listItem","name":"International News"}}]},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/#organization","name":"sotnews.agency","description":"Independent, Fearless, and Credible Journalism .","url":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/cropped-cropped-LOGFO.png","@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744\/#organizationLogo","width":705,"height":304},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744\/#organizationLogo"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/IPNNEWS.MEDIA"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/author\/ipnnews-media#author","url":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/author\/ipnnews-media","name":"sotnews.agency","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744#authorImage","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2216b0b9814e915fc1132814ba1718b23bb00f899e98887387912e723380a581?s=96&d=mm&r=g","width":96,"height":96,"caption":"sotnews.agency"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744#webpage","url":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744","name":"Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union - sotnews.agency","description":"As war and sexual violence rage in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), women are joining pro-government Wazalendo fighters to defend their communities. However, the armed group itself faces serious accusations of human rights abuses, including gang rape.Published On 26 Sep 202626 Sep 2026Share Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC","inLanguage":"en-US","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/#website"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744#breadcrumblist"},"author":{"@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/author\/ipnnews-media#author"},"creator":{"@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/author\/ipnnews-media#author"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-1790439858.jpg","@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744\/#mainImage","width":1920,"height":1080},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744#mainImage"},"datePublished":"2026-09-26T17:01:20+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-26T17:01:20+00:00"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/#website","url":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/","name":"sotnews.agency","description":"Independent, Fearless, and Credible Journalism .","inLanguage":"en-US","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/#organization"}}]},"og:locale":"en_US","og:site_name":"sotnews.agency - Independent, Fearless, and Credible Journalism .","og:type":"article","og:title":"Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union - sotnews.agency","og:description":"As war and sexual violence rage in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), women are joining pro-government Wazalendo fighters to defend their communities. However, the armed group itself faces serious accusations of human rights abuses, including gang rape.Published On 26 Sep 202626 Sep 2026Share Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC","og:url":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744","og:image":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/cropped-cropped-LOGFO.png","og:image:secure_url":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/cropped-cropped-LOGFO.png","article:published_time":"2026-09-26T17:01:20+00:00","article:modified_time":"2026-09-26T17:01:20+00:00","article:publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/IPNNEWS.MEDIA","twitter:card":"summary_large_image","twitter:title":"Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union - sotnews.agency","twitter:description":"As war and sexual violence rage in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), women are joining pro-government Wazalendo fighters to defend their communities. However, the armed group itself faces serious accusations of human rights abuses, including gang rape.Published On 26 Sep 202626 Sep 2026Share Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC","twitter:image":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/cropped-cropped-LOGFO.png"},"aioseo_meta_data":[],"aioseo_breadcrumb":"<div class=\"aioseo-breadcrumbs\"><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/\" title=\"Home\">Home<\/a>\n\t\t<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">\u00bb<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/sotnews.agency\/?cat=11\" title=\"International News\">International News<\/a>\n\t\t<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">\u00bb<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\tWomen take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union\n\t\t<\/span><\/div>","aioseo_breadcrumb_json":[{"label":"Home","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/"},{"label":"International News","link":"https:\/sotnews.agency\/?cat=11"},{"label":"Women take up arms as sexual violence ravages eastern DRC | African Union","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=5744"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5744","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5744"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5744\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}