André (not his real name), 20, is a resident of Kanyarutshinya village, north of Goma, the North Kivu provincial capital. The former child combatant served in the ranks of the Rassemblement Congolais pour la démocratie (RCD) and Congrès national pour la defense du peuple (CNDP) militia; both groups have since been integrated into the government.
Some 511 child combatants have been demobilised after the 18 April signing of an agreement dissolving 18 rebel and self-defence militia groups in North Kivu. He shared his experience with IRIN.
"My father had just been killed during the war and it became very difficult to survive. I thought the only solution would be joining the armed groups like most of the youth my age who were going either voluntarily or by force.
"We were beaten and given a hard time every day [in the militia]... we were at the frontline during attacks... We were threatened with death if we dared to escape.
"...My family complained that I was in the group that was terrorising the region.
"I was in [Laurent] Nkunda's [former CNDP leader] ranks during the fighting in Bukavu [South Kivu capital]; then I joined the new rebellion until my demobilisation by MONUC [the UN Mission in the DRC] following intervention by a local NGO.
"After demobilisation I found some of my former schoolmates and childhood friends operating the Tshikudu [a locally assembled bicycle popular for carrying heavy goods]. I first started helping those who were operating the Tshikudu... until I had enough money to construct my own.
"It has been six months since I started working with my motorcycle taxi... and I am married and able to feed my two children.
"I believed that my life was wasted and that I would spend the rest of my life among killers. But I have no regrets after exchanging my military gear for a Tshikudu and this motorcycle.
"I feel good now... I am doing well in my civilian life and I cannot advise any member of my family to go into the army because of the suffering I experienced.
"Today I am motorcyclist and I do not regret swapping my Kalashnikov and boots for this motorbike taxi."
ei/aw/mw
Some 511 child combatants have been demobilised after the 18 April signing of an agreement dissolving 18 rebel and self-defence militia groups in North Kivu. He shared his experience with IRIN.
"My father had just been killed during the war and it became very difficult to survive. I thought the only solution would be joining the armed groups like most of the youth my age who were going either voluntarily or by force.
"We were beaten and given a hard time every day [in the militia]... we were at the frontline during attacks... We were threatened with death if we dared to escape.
"...My family complained that I was in the group that was terrorising the region.
"I was in [Laurent] Nkunda's [former CNDP leader] ranks during the fighting in Bukavu [South Kivu capital]; then I joined the new rebellion until my demobilisation by MONUC [the UN Mission in the DRC] following intervention by a local NGO.
"After demobilisation I found some of my former schoolmates and childhood friends operating the Tshikudu [a locally assembled bicycle popular for carrying heavy goods]. I first started helping those who were operating the Tshikudu... until I had enough money to construct my own.
"It has been six months since I started working with my motorcycle taxi... and I am married and able to feed my two children.
"I believed that my life was wasted and that I would spend the rest of my life among killers. But I have no regrets after exchanging my military gear for a Tshikudu and this motorcycle.
"I feel good now... I am doing well in my civilian life and I cannot advise any member of my family to go into the army because of the suffering I experienced.
"Today I am motorcyclist and I do not regret swapping my Kalashnikov and boots for this motorbike taxi."
ei/aw/mw
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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