Wartime soldiers, civilian relations: Zimbabwean soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo war 1998–2002

Abstract

While the dominant narrative on and about war in postcolonial Africa is that soldiers are deployed to kill and destroy perceived enemies, this article contributes to our understanding of war as a social practice and a space of social mutuality that also constitutes an establishment of social relations with civilian people in the context of war. Thus, it is therefore important to note that war does not always change the ways in which soldiers understand civilian life. In the context of war, soldiers can demonstrate humanity, which is a social resource in establishing relationships with local civilians.