The Al Jazeera feature published on March 20, 2026, titled “‘It helps us survive’: Poverty forces children into mine work in DR Congo,” provides a harrowing look at the intersection of global mineral demand and extreme local poverty. The report focuses on the Rubaya mine in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a critical source of coltan—a mineral essential for the production of smartphones and laptops worldwide. The article follows a catastrophic landslide at the Rubaya site that killed at least 70 children. Congolese authorities and witnesses describe a scene where young boys and girls were buried while scavenging for minerals in deep, unstable pits. Interviews with families reveal a desperate reality: for many, child labor is not a choice but a survival strategy. With the region’s economy decimated by conflict and inflation, children as young as seven are sent to the mines to earn as little as $1–$2 a day to help buy food for their families. The report highlights that the Rubaya mines have been under the control of the M23 rebel group (allegedly backed by Rwanda) since 2024. Observers note that the rebels oversee illegal mining operations with almost no safety standards, exploiting the local population to fund their military activities. The feature challenges the international community and tech giants, noting that despite “conflict-free” mineral initiatives, the supply chain remains deeply tainted by child labor and death. It points out the bitter irony that while the world moves toward a “green” and “digital” future, it is being built on the backs of the world’s most vulnerable children.

Let’s Pray:

Merciful and gracious Lord, look from the windows of heaven upon the children of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, especially those in the Rubaya region who have been forced into the darkness of the mines by the crushing weight of poverty. You see every child working in the mud, every mother grieving a son or daughter lost to a landslide, and every family trapped in a cycle of exploitation—have mercy on them, O God. Surround the children currently in the mines with Your protection. Prevent further collapses and landslides, and make a way for these children to return to school for a brighter future. Help them find purpose and true meaning in life. Keep them safe from harm and from enemy attack. O Lord, grant the government the knowledge it needs to create a system of child support and ensure free healthcare and education for all children, so they are not burdened by high school fees, and have the opportunity to attend school securely and with child care. Father Lord, move against the armed groups and traffickers who profit from the blood of the innocent. We ask that You would cut off their resources and bring a spirit of conviction and justice to the region. Soften the hearts of global leaders and corporations and encourage them to do what is right and put the needs and safety of these children above their own interests. Let there be a true move toward justice in the mineral trade, where the dignity of a human life is valued more than the profit of a device. God of Peace, bring a true and lasting end to the conflict in the eastern DRC. Let Your provision flow so that no parent ever has to choose between their child’s safety and their family’s next meal. Our Lord, we commit to You the well-being and welfare of these children, for it is in You that they will find safety and live an abundant life. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Amen.

Are you interested in continuing to intercede? You can read more about Persecuted Christians in Yemen Hidden but Growing Faith in our latest post.

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Report date: March 23, 2026

Country: DR Congo

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