Former militia members seek peace and reintegration in DRC

In Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo, the war has left deep scars. But amid the ruins, a glimmer of hope is emerging. Hundreds of former militiamen, after years of violence, have laid down their arms and are attempting to reintegrate into civilian life.

Léonie Safari, 20, has known hell. A former combatant of CODECO, an armed group active in the Ituri conflict, she joined the rebellion in 2020 after her parents’ death, seeking…