**Maize Prices in the DRC: A Worrying Surge in Kamako in 2024**
The economic and social situation in Kamako, in the Kasai province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has become alarming this October 2024. The inhabitants of this town on the border with Angola are facing a steep rise in the price of maize, a staple food for many families.
Since the beginning of the month, the cost of a bucket of maize has increased exponentially, from 30,000 to 50,000 FC. This sudden increase is pushing many households to migrate to Angola using clandestine routes in search of more affordable foodstuffs.
This price surge is not unique to Kamako: the town of Tshikapa, located 150 kilometers away, is also seeing a significant increase in the price of corn, from 15,000 to 25,000 FC per bucket. This economic reality directly impacts the purchasing power of residents, who are already weakened by precarious living conditions.
Price fluctuations vary from one market to another, creating a situation of heightened speculation. At the slaughterhouse in the commune of Mbumba, a bucket of corn sells for between 22,000 and 23,000 FC, while in Dibumba the price fluctuates between 22,000 and 24,000 FC. In the city center, the same bucket can cost up to 27,000 FC, making access to basic food increasingly difficult for many households.
Elsewhere in the DRC, in Ilebo, in the Sud-Banga sector, the interim administrative secretary, Benjamin Mbombo, is sounding the alarm on the scarcity of food products on the market, particularly maize and cassava. He points the finger at street traders as being responsible for this worrying situation, which risks plunging the local population into a period of famine, thus exacerbating the existing difficulties.
Faced with this economic crisis that is hitting the most vulnerable populations hard, provincial deputy Jean Dénis Tshiyombo took the initiative to address an oral question with debate to the provincial Minister of Agriculture. It is imperative to put in place emergency measures to stabilize food prices and guarantee access to healthy and affordable food for all citizens.
In conclusion, the surge in maize prices in Kamako and other regions of the DRC highlights the structural challenges facing the country in terms of food security and economic stability. There is an urgent need to take effective measures to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable populations and prevent an even more serious humanitarian crisis.