Sarcouncil Journal of Humanities and Cultural Studies

Abstract: This study focuses on women who sell charcoal illegally sourced from Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the Irhambi-Katana region of South Kivu. The objective is to understand why these women engage in this dangerous activity and how it affects their daily lives, their health, and their place in society. For this research, we interviewed 44 women working in this trade. The results show that these women do not choose this work for pleasure, but out of absolute necessity. The majority of them (80%) have a primary school education or less, and 59.1% explain that they do this work because they lack other employment to support their families. Their daily lives are marked by significant insecurity and hardship: 90.9% say they live in constant fear. They regularly have their goods confiscated by park authorities, and also face extortion and sexual violence. This situation takes a heavy toll on their mental health: 86.4% report sleep disturbances or loss of appetite. Furthermore, their work is viewed negatively by the community (95.4% feel stigmatized), which leads to tension in relationships for 63.6% of them and profound emotional distress. A paradox emerges from this study: these women are proud of their role as "income providers within the family" (65.9%), but at the same time, they feel intense guilt because of the illegality of their work (70.5%). This is what we have termed "freedom under constraint": they earn a little money to survive, but at the cost of a very precarious life and numerous risks. In conclusion, this research shows that simple repression, such as confiscating their charcoal, does not solve the problem. On the contrary, it exacerbates their vulnerability and insecurity. To protect Kahuzi-Biega National Park while also protecting the women living there, it is necessary to offer them stable economic alternatives and appropriate psychological support, rather than simply resorting to sanctions.