Intersectional Realities of Female Artisanal Miners in the Lualaba Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 1, January 2026 | pp. 25–32
DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000104

Empirical Article

Intersectional Realities of Female Artisanal Miners in the Lualaba Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Marie-Claire Tshilombo¹, Nene Kabanga²

¹Department of Sociology, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo
²Center for Gender and Mining Studies, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract: Artisanal and small-scale cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a male-dominated sector where women occupy the most hazardous, informal tiers of the supply chain. This study explores the intersectional vulnerabilities experienced by female washers, sorters, and petty traders in Lualaba Province. Through an ethnographic approach involving participant observation and 85 semi-structured interviews, we document the physical toll, economic exploitation, and systemic gender-based violence at mine sites. Results indicate that 78.8 percent of female miners suffer from chronic musculoskeletal disorders and heavy metal exposure symptoms, yet lack access to occupational health services or secure tenure over mineral-sorting areas. Furthermore, customary patriarchal structures prevent women from registering mining cooperatives independently. The study highlights the urgent need for formalization policies that protect women’s labor rights, guarantee equal pay, and eradicate sexual exploitation by armed actors and informal mine bosses.

Keywords: Artisanal mining, intersectionality, cobalt supply chain, labor rights, Democratic Republic of Congo

Manuscript Timeline: Received: November 02, 2025; Revised: December 10, 2025; Accepted: December 22, 2025; Published: January 25, 2026

Citation: Tshilombo, M.-C., & Kabanga, N. (2026). Intersectional Realities of Female Artisanal Miners in the Lualaba Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(1), 25–32. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000104

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