### Goma: When economic isolation becomes a devastating reality
The current situation in Goma, an emblematic city of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is similar to a resurgence of sad hours of isolation. The rupture of the connection between this eastern metropolis and the other provinces is not just a physical cut in roads or airways, but a real surge in socio-economic consequences. While local producers and resellers express their discouragement in the face of the drop in consumers, a more in-depth examination reveals a dynamic of vulnerability rooted in broader economic structures, where the training effects have repercussions to Kinshasa and beyond .
### Goma’s economic stratosphere and its vulnerabilities
Historically, Goma has been a vital commercial pivot, especially with regard to the export of natural resources. The closure of strategic axes has made access to external markets extremely difficult, hampering the circulation of goods and services. To illustrate this dynamic, it should be recalled that the city, as a gateway to Rwanda and is from the DRC, has always been integrated into a wider regional sales network. With the closure of the tracks, this intermingling is unlocked, exposing the fragile interconnections on which local savings are based.
We thus observe a direct consequence of this breakdown: a surplus of local production, particularly in the agricultural and artisanal sectors. The peasants, despite efforts to diversify their cultures, find themselves faced with a saturation of the offer on an exsangue local market. The absence of takers, coupled with stagnant consumption, leads to a devaluation of their products, making them less competitive.
#### Impact on major companies and interprorvincial trade
The recent looting of Bralima, one of the largest brewing companies in South Kivu, also illustrates the fragility of the region’s economy. Bralima, which plays a fundamental role in creating jobs and stimulating the local economy, is a relevant example of the challenges facing businesses in the face of isolation. In times of crisis, private investments decrease, and the disengagement of businesses like Bralima has cascading repercussions on local entrepreneurs, who depend on the supply chain.
If the economy of Goma seemed to be resilient in the face of past crises, this connection of connection highlights the structural weaknesses which could foreshadow deeper disasters if no solution is provided. Entrepreneurs are torn between the desire to maintain their activities and the overwhelming economic reality which faces the closure of regional markets.
#### Répercussions in Kinshasa and other provinces
The consequences of the isolation of Goma are not limited to the city alone. In Kinshasa, for example, a notable slowdown in trade is already felt. The closure of Goma airport complicates logistics, delaying product shipment, including those in strategic sectors such as agriculture and mineral resources. Economic operators, in particular those who are part of the Congo Companies Federation (FEC), are forced to review their strategies, seeking to compensate for losses by other channels, often expensive for start-ups or small and medium -sized enterprises (SMEs).
In cities like Kindu and Bunia, distant but interconnected in Goma, the repercussions are just as obvious: the scarcity of products has caused uncontrollable inflation. Prices are climbing, which directly impacts the cost of living for local populations, thus exacerbating economic inequalities in these regions.
### towards a collective and sustainable response
Faced with this trying table, it becomes imperative to lay the foundations for a collective response to restore Goma’s economic connectivity with the rest of the country. Political and economic decision -makers must measure the extent of the current crisis and mobilize the resources necessary to reopen the essential ways. This could include a reassessment of regional partnerships and a concerted effort to strengthen transport infrastructure, while attacking the security challenges that exacerbate the current crisis.
Initiatives such as the development of a secure commercial corridor could also be envisaged to restore the confidence of economic operators, both local and international. This requires a commitment not only of governments, but also civil society and the private sector to build lasting resilience.
In the end, the situation in Goma is a call to unity and action. The path to the recovery is strewn with pitfalls, but with a significant collective response, it is possible to restore this city the place it deserves within the Congolese economic table, and thus ensure a more promising future for its residents.