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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
World
RFI

The 'wowo' women carrying DRC's border trade on their backs, despite the risks

A woman carrying a sack of potatoes on her head waits to cross the border from Zambia to the DRC at the Kasumbalesa border-post. © AFP - ODD ANDERSEN

Hundreds of women carry cross-border trade on their heads and backs every day at Kasumbalesa, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s second-busiest border crossing into Zambia. Their work keeps supply chains moving, but they endure extortion and harassment for work that gives little return.

They call themselves "wowo" after the Chinese goods trucks that are a common sight here.

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