The M23 war in the DRC is undermining the shopping basket of Goma, in North Kivu. While Kinshasa continues to accuse Kigali of supporting this rebellion, several inhabitants of Goma denounce the high cost of living, a consequence of this war which cut off the capital of North Kivu from several of its villages of Masisi and Rutshuru which supplied it in food, but also between Goma and the cross-border transit point of Bunagana, on the border with Uganda. This is causing concern among residents.
The effects of the war are felt in the daily life of the inhabitants of Goma. One of the biggest impacts is soaring food prices. Due to road cuts and detours taken by truckers to reach Goma, transport costs increase, which affects the price of products on market stalls. Esther Kavira, a potato seller, testifies to this: “Previously, I bought a bag of potatoes of 100 or 150 kilos between 50 and 70 US dollars. Today, I buy it at 100 dollars, because those who cultivated have fled their villages. And even if they have some plants in their fields, they cannot harvest because of the war! A kilo of potatoes, which sold for 1,000 Congolese francs, has almost doubled, to 1,750 francs! Nothing can work because there is war.”
The high cost of living is not only limited to potatoes, other products are also experiencing a significant increase in price. Moreover, monetary instability on the Congolese market is aggravating the situation in Goma. Pascaline Kambale, a reseller of various products, points out that the US dollar exchange rate has increased, while civil servants are not being paid. It therefore calls on the government to take measures to support key sectors such as the army, education and health, in order to stimulate the local economy.
Civil society in Goma is also expressing its concerns and calling for concrete actions. They ask the army to recover the areas occupied by the rebels, the end of the state of siege in force for two years, and the establishment of a state of emergency to remedy the precarious socio-economic situation residents of Goma.
It is undeniable that the M23 war has significant repercussions on the daily life of the inhabitants of Goma. Food price increases and currency instability create a difficult situation for the local population. It is essential that steps be taken to restore stability and improve living conditions in the region. The answer can only be a combination of military actions to end the rebellion and economic measures to support the most vulnerable inhabitants