** Customs and intransigence of the DGDA in the face of economic rebellion in North Kivu: a paradigm change **
In a context where national security is undermined by rebellions and occupations, the Directorate General of Customs and Incise (DGDA) of the Province of North Kivu has taken a striking measure to redefine the management of imports from areas controlled by the M23 armed group. By a note dated February 28, the DGDA has declared that any merchandise from the territories affected by the rebellious occupation would be considered a new importation, resulting in a recalibration of customs procedures which could have deep repercussions on the local economy.
### A complicated historical and economic context
To understand this decision, it is crucial to grasp the complexity of the eastern economic landscape of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Historically, regions and Goma have always been strategic crossroads for regional trade, facilitating exchanges between the country and its neighbors, including Rwanda and Uganda. However, this dynamic was largely disturbed by recurring armed conflicts, which have caused tax by tax and customs declaration.
The current DGDA measurement is part of a larger movement aimed at strengthening the legitimacy of state tax revenues. By reclassifying these imports as a new, the DGDA hopes to reduce tax losses, which, according to certain estimates, could reach millions of dollars a year if we consider the origin of unorganized goods due to the current situation.
### Statistics and economic impact
A preliminary analysis of trade flows before the occupation by the M23 reveals a significant drop in official imports. Congo central bank figures showed that during the years before the climbing of conflicts in 2021, the customs of the province was constantly increasing. However, since 2022, this dynamic has reversed with a fall of almost 30 % of the revenues generated by customs in the region, exacerbated by the loss of control over crucial entry positions like Bunagana and Ishasha.
The eradication of customs bypass practices is also accompanied by a legitimately economic imperative: the maintenance of a balance in areas still under national control. Bringing taxes on previously exempt goods to pay for local goods could be crucial for local businesses whose viability depends on the regular supplies to goods and services in these sectors.
### A strategy to combat prevarication
Far from being a simple repressive measure, this policy could also be interpreted as a call to a national rally against prevarication and occupation. At the time of the 2000s war, similar measures had been implemented, but their effectiveness had been eroded by the lack of infrastructure and political will. Today, the CEO of Paul Kayembe Ngindus seems to adopt a more proactive posture in the face of similar challenges, hoping to establish a declaration standard that could potentially leave less room for corruption.
### Reflections on socio -political effects
However, the introduction of this new regulation is not without raising socio -political issues. For economic operators, the requirement to deal with goods from the M23 controlled areas as new imports could create tensions on the ground. With already saturated markets and damaged infrastructure, this could exacerbate tensions between local communities and customs authorities.
In addition, by restoring a strict legal framework, is the DGDA not to risk making even more difficult access to basic necessities for inappropriate populations or in precarious situations? It is essential that decision -makers carefully assess the impact on the ground, taking care to balance economic and humanitarian rigor.
### Conclusion
The DGDA’s decision to deal with goods from the areas occupied by the M23 as new imports is a daring attempt to take up the challenge of tax losses in the face of a rebellious occupation. While strengthening the tax legitimacy of the State, this policy also raises questions about its social and economic repercussions for local populations. Attentive follow -up and adjustments will be vital to ensure that this initiative does not turn into an additional burden for communities already experienced by the conflict. In an environment as volatile as North Kivu, the path to a real stabilization of course goes through a holistic and integrated approach, which takes into account human realities as well as economic necessities.
Fatshimetrie.org will be happy to follow the developments of this complex situation, another chapter of the tumultuous history of the DR Congo, where the battles take place both on the physical field and on the economic front.