Dynamics of informal occupation and local resilience strategies in risk-prone areas of Bukavu

Dynamics of informal occupation and local resilience strategies in risk-prone areas of Bukavu | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Dynamics of informal occupation and local resilience strategies in risk-prone areas of Bukavu Benjamin Aganze Marhegane, Irène Furaha Kaningu, Daniel Byumanine Cirimwami, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8887104/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 17 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Bukavu, a city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, faces numerous urban planning challenges related to rapid and largely unplanned urban growth. Fueled by swift population growth since the 1990s due to displacement linked to armed conflicts, this dynamic translates into the progressive occupation of environmentally vulnerable zones, notably steep slopes, river and drainage basin banks, thereby exposing residents to recurrent risks of flooding, landslides, and waterborne diseases. Drawing on a qualitative methodology that combines documentary analysis, field observations, and 41 semi-structured interviews with local authorities, social actors, and residents of the Luziba drainage collector, this study examines the dynamics that shaped informal occupation around the Luziba collector and assesses the local resilience strategies developed by residents to live with water. The results show that settlement in this high-risk zone is primarily driven by socio-economic constraints, land pressure, proximity to urban cores, and the lack of accessible residential alternatives. Exacerbated by displacement movements linked to armed conflicts, occupation of the Luziba riverbank reduces hydraulic capacity and intensifies flood magnitudes, thereby exposing residents to multiple impacts during the rainy season. Faced with these risks, residents have developed individual and community resilience strategies to live with water, such as elevated-floor construction, raising entrance levels of houses, the erection of small retaining walls, dredging of the drainage collector, and mutual aid mechanisms. However, although useful and rooted in local knowledge, these practices remain limited in terms of effectiveness and scope. The study highlights the need to integrate local resilience dynamics into a contextually grounded urban planning approach that can reconcile risk management, social-spatial inclusion, and environmental sustainability in rapidly growing African cities. Informal urbanization Risk zone Flood risk Urban resilience Local knowledge Luziba drainage collector Bukavu Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 09 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 04 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 31 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 27 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 27 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 25 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 25 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 25 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 25 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 25 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 25 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 25 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 18 Mar, 2026 Editor invited by journal 05 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 02 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 02 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 02 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8887104","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":608337182,"identity":"ea291608-db7a-4e4d-8499-b5c65634699e","order_by":0,"name":"Benjamin Aganze 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Fueled by swift population growth since the 1990s due to displacement linked to armed conflicts, this dynamic translates into the progressive occupation of environmentally vulnerable zones, notably steep slopes, river and drainage basin banks, thereby exposing residents to recurrent risks of flooding, landslides, and waterborne diseases. Drawing on a qualitative methodology that combines documentary analysis, field observations, and 41 semi-structured interviews with local authorities, social actors, and residents of the Luziba drainage collector, this study examines the dynamics that shaped informal occupation around the Luziba collector and assesses the local resilience strategies developed by residents to live with water. The results show that settlement in this high-risk zone is primarily driven by socio-economic constraints, land pressure, proximity to urban cores, and the lack of accessible residential alternatives. 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