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After jihadist attacks, Congolese women resort to mining as a means of survival

Maman Soki, a Congolese woman who is part of a small group that does heavy mining for survival in the wake of a terrorist attack by Islamic State rebels on her village which killed her daughter as well as her sister.

The 49-year old widow fled her home with her son, her grandson, and her sister's kids in April to escape the jihadists, one of the many armed groups that occupied the mineral-rich area.

Soki, along with two other women, now hauls 30 kg bags of debris up a steep muddy slope to earn a few dollars per day for the four children she cares for.

In an interview, Soki stated that "sometimes we want to dig in the pits but are told we can't." "That's the reason we always transport the already-dug, sand to be processed."

Soki's life is only remembered by a photograph of her sibling.

Soki is now caring for two of her sister's small children as well as an orphaned grandchild. Muhindo, Soki's 12-year old son, looks after three of his adopted siblings when Soki is working.

The mining industry in Congo is traditionally dominated primarily by men. However, women often undertake this backbreaking work for survival.

According to the RENAFEM national association, a Western funded group dedicated to protecting the rights of women workers, many female miners face harassment and discrimination by their male counterparts, and are assigned lower-paying jobs.

Soki wants to save up enough money to open a food store, and then leave the mining industry behind. However, after paying for his children's school fees, food and other expenses, there is not much left.

Obed, her son, said: "We are worried about her safety if she travels to Pangoyi."

UN and local officials reported that in July, Islamic State-backed fighters murdered at least 43 worshippers at a church located in Komanda. In August, they killed at the least 52 civilians living in eastern Congo's Beni and Lubero regions.

(source: Reuters)