**Title: The harassment of small cross-border traders in Kasumbalesa: An alarming reality**
In the tumult and excitement of the Kasumbalesa small cross-border traders corridor, an alarming situation persists: the harassment of small transporters and traders who try to get their goods out. This worrying reality, which sometimes fuels smuggling, is the reflection of a complex and obscure system that is corrupting the functioning of this crucial border crossing.
The testimonies collected on the ground highlight an extensive network of unofficial services operating in the corridor. While only four services recognized by the State are supposed to be present, twelve unofficial entities have taken their place, in obvious disorder and under the helpless gaze of the authorities and the DGDA. These unauthorized services include DEMIAP, GOVERNORATE, SPECIAL SERVICES, NEW TECHNOLOGY, FARDC, COSAS and CBTA. All these actors demand inappropriate payments and put financial pressure on small traders and transporters, adding an additional layer of hassle to their already difficult daily lives.
The consequences of this situation are devastating for small entrepreneurs in the region. In addition to the official fees imposed by the DGDA, these multiple illegitimate barriers lead to significant additional expenses for traders and transporters, reducing their already slim profit margins. The testimonies collected reveal cases where sums reaching 1000Fc are demanded at each crossing point, for a total that can exceed 7000Fc. This situation constitutes a real obstacle to legitimate trade and jeopardizes the economic activity of small actors in the corridor.
Faced with this alarming picture, calls for intervention by the authorities are increasing. Small transporters and cross-border traders are demanding concrete measures to put an end to this organized harassment that undermines their economic activities. The involvement of the competent authorities is essential to restore a climate of trust and ensure an environment conducive to legal and transparent trade. The stakes are high, because the persistence of these illegal practices harms not only small entrepreneurs, but also the image and credibility of the institutions responsible for ensuring the proper functioning of the Kasumbalesa corridor.
This alarming reality reveals the urgent need for a thorough reform of the control and management system of the Kasumbalesa small cross-border traders corridor. Transparency, integrity and accountability must be the watchwords in the fight against the harassment and corruption that plague this border crossing that is vital to the local economy.It is time for concerted and determined action to ensure a better future for cross-border trade actors and the prosperity of the Kasumbalesa region.