‘It helps us survive’: Poverty forces children into mine work in DR Congo
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In Rubaya, Democratic Republic of Congo, extreme poverty forces children into dangerous mine work to support their families. A recent landslide at the Kasasa mining site killed hundreds, including 70 children, according to the Congolese government. The area is rich in coltan, tin, and tungsten, essential minerals for modern technology, but the unregulated, informal mining sector relies heavily on child labor, despite its illegality. The situation is worsened by ongoing violence between the Congolese army and armed groups like the M23 rebels, who control Rubaya and exploit its resources. Survivors of mine collapses, like 15-year-old Mishiki Nshokano, feel compelled to return to the mines due to a lack of alternative income sources.
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Key Claims (5)
AI-ExtractedM23 seized control of Rubaya in 2024.
Child labour is technically illegal in DRC.
Rubaya is a town that sits on stores of coltan, tin, and tungsten.
Mishiki Nshokano earns the equivalent of $4 a day transporting sacks of coltan.
Congolese authorities say 70 children died in a landslide at the Rubaya mine.
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