When Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants stormed her village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Maman Soki lost her daughter, sister, and neighbours.
Displaced and widowed, the 49-year-old now hauls sacks of gold-bearing rock to survive and care for four children.
At the Pangoyi mine in North Kivu province, Soki is among hundreds of women drawn into gruelling, low-paid labour after militants torched their villages.
More than 200,000 people have been displaced by ADF violence in the past year alone, according to the United Nations.
“I fled after witnessing my loved ones killed by the ADF during an attack on our village—my children, friends, and many other villagers,” she said.
“They burned our homes and everything we owned. We had nowhere else to go, so we came here. These days, finding food is very difficult. That’s why I chose to come here—to earn a living for myself and the orphans I care for at home.”
Mining in Congo is traditionally male-dominated, with women barred from digging in the pits. Instead, they carry heavy loads of already-dug sand for processing, earning just a few dollars a day.
“What we earn here helps cover medical expenses and clothing for the children,” Soki explained.
“Sometimes we want to enter the pits to dig, but we’re told women aren’t allowed to do that kind of work. That’s why we always carry the already-dug sand for processing.”
Despite the danger of rebel attacks and the back-breaking work, Soki says she hopes to save enough to open a small food store and leave the mines behind.
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