Children in DR Congo's Rubaya mine face deadly risks due to poverty, with recent landslides claiming young lives amid unregulated mining operations.
In the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, a landslide at the Rubaya mine killed 70 children who were working there, as reported by Congolese authorities. The incident occurred on March 3, highlighting the dangers faced by child laborers in the region's informal mining sector.
Fifteen-year-old Mishiki Nshokano survived the disaster and is now recovering in Goma. He has worked as an artisanal miner for four years to support his family after his father died in a similar landslide in 2022, earning about $4 a day by transporting sacks of coltan.
Background on Rubaya Mine and Child Labor
Rubaya, located in North Kivu province, is rich in minerals like coltan, tin, and tungsten, which are used in smartphones and electric cars. Despite child labor being illegal under DRC law, many children engage in mining due to economic necessity, with little oversight in the unregulated sector.
The World Bank reports that over 70 percent of Congolese live on less than $2.15 a day, exacerbating the reliance on mining for survival. Nshokano's family struggled after his father's death, forcing him to leave school and join the mines.
Violence in the area, including control by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, complicates mining operations, as noted in reports from organizations like Global Witness. This has led to children working in hazardous conditions without protective equipment.
The U.S. Bureau of International Labor Affairs stated in a 2023 report that child labor persists in DRC mines, with workers often in deplorable conditions. The International Labour Organization's 2019 report also highlighted widespread child involvement in extracting minerals like coltan and cobalt.
Global Witness recently called for businesses and governments to address the human cost of mineral mining, pointing to smuggling of coltan to Rwanda and urging adherence to international standards.
