How the DRC became a modern slavery hub

A cocktail of longstanding conflict, poverty and political instability has exacerbated the human trafficking crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with studies like the Global Slavery Index indicating that about 407,000 people live in modern slavery, and 94 per cent of the population is vulnerable, particularly women, children and refugees.

This grim reality of exploitation affects tens of thousands of lives and has led to the Central African country being dubbed 'the human trafficking capital of Africa' by media and researchers.

The evolution of human trafficking in Congo

Human trafficking in the DRC has evolved over the past three decades from conflict-driven abductions to a complex crisis involving organised crime, economic exploitation and sophisticated trafficking networks.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the DRC was consumed by a series of devastating conflicts, including the First and Second Congo Wars. During this time, the predominant form of human trafficking involved the abduction of children and young adults, who were forced to serve as child soldiers or labourers.

Armed groups like the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and various local militias were notorious for forcibly recruiting children from villages and refugee camps.

The LRA, led by warlord Joseph Kony, became infamous for its brutal practices in the DRC and neighbouring countries. The group is reported to have abducted over 67,000 youths, including 30,000 children in Uganda and nearby countries like the DRC, using them as sex slaves, porters and child soldiers.

As the wars subsided but instability persisted, trafficking patterns shifted towards economic exploitation and organised crime. Illegal mining operations, especially in the mineral-rich regions of eastern DRC, became a major driver of trafficking. Traffickers exploited the desperate conditions of local communities, including children, by coercing them into hazardous labour in mining pits.

In the mineral-rich provinces of North and South Kivu, children and adults were trafficked into artisanal mining operations, often enduring appalling conditions. They were forced to work long hours with minimal safety measures, exposing them to dangerous and frequently life-threatening situations.

The minerals extracted from these mines, including coltan and gold, fueled global technology and jewelry industries, creating a complex connection between local exploitation and international markets.

The international NGO Global Witness, which seeks to expose the links between natural resource exploitation, poverty, corruption and human rights abuses, highlighted in a report titled "Faced with a gun, what can you do?" that European and Asian companies, such as THAISARCO (a scion of the British metals group AMC), Belgium’s Trademet and the UK's Afrimex, are among those purchasing minerals from the DRC. These transactions, in turn, fund armed groups, further exacerbating the conflict.

In recent years, human trafficking in the DRC has evolved to include more sophisticated trafficking networks and a marked increase in sexual exploitation. Traffickers now operate through well-organised criminal networks, employing various tactics to exploit victims. The rise of urban trafficking and the use of fraudulent recruitment schemes have also become more prevalent.

Once recruited, victims are transported under harsh conditions to different regions within the DRC or across borders into neighbouring countries.

The trafficking networks use various modes of transportation - such as trucks, boats, or even on foot - often under brutal conditions. Victims are then sold into various forms of exploitation, including forced labour in mines, agricultural work, domestic servitude and sexual exploitation.

Cross-border trafficking

Traffickers have increasingly used fraudulent employment agencies to lure victims with promises of jobs or education. In cities like Kinshasa and other major urban areas, fake job offers are commonly used to attract vulnerable individuals, who are then coerced into forced labour or sexual exploitation. Victims, often women and girls seeking better economic opportunities, find themselves trapped in exploitation rings with little hope of escape.

Ads promoting fake jobs commonly appear on social media platforms, local job boards and sometimes even in newspapers. They offer attractive positions, such as administrative and managerial jobs or high-paying contracts with reputable companies and international NGOs.

Once a prospective victim shows interest, the fraudsters use various tactics to lure them in, including conducting interviews via phone calls or online video chats to reinforce the legitimacy of the job offer.

Victims who 'qualify' are promised assistance with transportation to the workplace. They may be given travel arrangements or instructed to travel to another city or country for the job. In some instances, traffickers use the pretense of arranging relocation to lure victims into their traps.

Upon arrival at their destination, victims often find themselves in desperate situations. The promised jobs are nonexistent, and they are frequently forced into exploitative labour conditions, such as domestic servitude, factory work or other forms of forced labour. 

"Communities in the DRC face an uphill battle against human trafficking. With limited resources and a lack of effective support systems, victims often find themselves isolated and without recourse," Jean-Paul Kanu, an advocate for victims of human trafficking in Eastern Africa, told FairPlanet.

"Many families, driven by poverty, are coerced into trafficking schemes, making it imperative for both local and international efforts to address the root causes of exploitation and offer tangible support to affected individuals and communities."

Traffickers frequently transport victims from the DRC to neighbouring countries like Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. In these regions, victims are exploited in various ways, including forced labour in agriculture or sex work. This cross-border trafficking is facilitated by the lack of coordinated regional responses between these countries and the challenges of enforcing laws across international borders.

The DRC's geographical location, bordering nine countries, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Central African Republic, Burundi, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and Angola, has made it a key transit point for trafficking networks operating across Central Africa. This regional dimension complicates efforts to curb trafficking, as it involves coordination with multiple countries and jurisdictions.

Tackling the crisis

Despite the ongoing crisis, several initiatives have been implemented to address and curb human trafficking.

The DRC government, in collaboration with international organisations, has made efforts to tackle human trafficking. Legislative measures, such as the 2006 Law on Trafficking and Child Labour, are aimed at combating trafficking.

However, enforcement has remained a challenge due to corruption, lack of resources and ongoing conflict. Well-connected traffickers and sophisticated trafficking syndicates often bribe police and government officials to keep the trade going.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and various NGOs have been actively supporting anti-trafficking initiatives. They have launched campaigns focused on educating the public about the risks of trafficking and how to report suspicious activities to local authorities.

Children of the Congo Foundation, a local organisation, focuses specifically on children who are at risk of or are victims of trafficking and other forms of exploitation. The foundation operates safe houses that provide temporary shelter, education and psychological support for rescued children.

The foundation also assists in reintegrating children with their families, offering support to both the children and their families to ensure a stable and protective environment. Through these initiatives, it has reached thousands of vulnerable children across major parts of the DRC.

The foundation provides economic support to families through microfinance programmes and vocational training. By helping families become self-sufficient, the organisation aims to reduce the economic pressures that often lead to child exploitation and labour.

But the DRC has long been plagued by political instability and conflict, posing significant challenges to the foundation's operations. Security concerns have disrupted activities, restricted access to remote areas and created risks for both staff and beneficiaries.

Despite its efforts, the Children of the Congo Foundation faces ongoing financial constraints. Limited funding impacts its ability to expand programmes, maintain facilities and reach more children in need. The reliance on donations and grants means that fluctuations in funding directly affect the scope and sustainability of its projects.

Furthermore, the logistical challenges of operating in a vast and underdeveloped country like the DRC are substantial. Inadequate transportation infrastructure makes it difficult to deliver aid, conduct outreach programmes and monitor remote projects, leading to delays and increased costs.

On the positive side, training programmes for law enforcement and judicial officials, supported by government and nonprofit organisations, aim to improve the identification and prosecution of traffickers. These initiatives work to strengthen legal measures against offenders and enhance safety for victims.

As a result, specialised anti-trafficking units within the national police force have been established to investigate trafficking cases, conduct raids and arrest suspects. Local media have reported increased police activities in apprehending offenders, and the US Department of State's Trafficking in Persons report has acknowledged the DRC's efforts to address the issue in its latest report.

In recent years, there has been an increase in trafficking-related prosecutions and convictions, with courts imposing stricter sentences on traffickers. Specialised courts have been established to handle human trafficking cases, aiming to streamline the judicial process and ensure that these cases are addressed with the necessary expertise and sensitivity.

As the conflict in the DRC continues and human trafficking syndicates grow more sophisticated, experts argue that increased regional and international cooperation is essential to curb cross-border trafficking. This includes enhanced information sharing.

Additionally, they urge the country to focus on strengthening its legal and justice system and raising awareness, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children and women.

"The DRC’s status as a major trafficking hub is a result of its complex crisis dynamics," Kanu added. "Regional instability, combined with widespread poverty, creates an environment where trafficking networks can operate with relative ease. Projects that are being introduced should aim to strengthen cross-border cooperation and enhance victim support services. Tackling this issue requires a comprehensive approach involving all sectors of society."

Image by Ehteshamul Haque Adit.