Socioeconomic Effects of Armed Conflicts on Artisanal Mining: A Case of The Mai Mai Groups in Mukungwe, South Kivu, DRC

Abstract

This study investigates the socioeconomic effects of armed conflict on artisanal mining by focusing on the activities of Mai-Mai groups in Mukungwe, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo. Mukungwe is a mineral-rich site where recurrent insecurity has disrupted livelihoods, displaced households, and undermined economic stability. Guided by the Political Economy of Conflict theory and the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach, the research aimed to understand how the conflict has shaped miners’ ability to access ore, market their products, and sustain constructive community relations. Using a qualitative case study design, the study collected data through interviews with Mukungwe miners, local community officials, and humanitarian workers, applying thematic analysis to capture their lived experiences. Three key domains are examined: economic hardship, strained social networks, and psychological well-being. Findings illuminated how armed conflicts transform artisanal mining livelihoods and identify coping strategies adopted by miners. The study highlighted the need for community-centered, policy-oriented interventions that place human security and sustainable development at the core of responses to mineral-based conflicts, linking broader debates on resource governance with the everyday realities of Mukungwe’s miners.