Uvira's Economy Paralyzed by Ongoing Conflict

The bustling commercial life of Uvira has ground to a halt. In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a strategic border city finds itself caught in the crossfire of a conflict that has paralyzed its economy and severed vital regional trade links.

What was once a thriving hub of cross-border commerce has transformed into a landscape of shuttered storefronts and skyrocketing prices. The conflict between DRC forces and M23 rebels has created a crisis that extends far beyond the battlefield, reaching directly into the daily lives of local residents and traders.

The economic crisis began in mid-December when the border with neighbouring Burundi abruptly closed. This closure followed the capture of Uvira by M23 rebels, effectively cutting off a critical artery for regional trade and supply chains.

The border closure represents more than just a political boundary shift—it has severed a lifeline for the local economy. Uvira's position as a key transit point meant that the sudden isolation immediately disrupted the flow of goods, services, and commerce that sustained the city's economic vitality.

The impact has been particularly severe for:

• Small business owners who rely on cross-border trade
• Local consumers facing rapidly depleting supplies
• Traders dependent on Burundian markets for goods
• Transportation workers whose livelihoods depend on border traffic

Despite the widespread disruption, some markets in Uvira continue to operate, though in a drastically diminished capacity. These remaining operational spaces offer a stark window into the economic devastation unfolding in the city.

Small businesses, the backbone of Uvira's local economy, have been rendered largely at a standstill. The combination of supply chain disruptions, security concerns, and evaporating consumer purchasing power has created an environment where normal commercial activity is nearly impossible to sustain.

One of the most immediate and painful consequences for residents has been the dramatic surge in prices. With the border closed and supply routes disrupted, the cost of basic necessities and consumer goods has exploded, placing immense strain on household budgets already stretched thin by the ongoing conflict.

The human dimension of this crisis has been documented by international journalists who have managed to reach the city. FRANCE 24 correspondents Emmett Livingstone and Cedric Bengera have reported directly from one of Uvira's still-operating markets, providing rare firsthand accounts of the economic conditions.

Their reporting from the ground offers crucial insights into how the conflict is affecting everyday life in the city. By documenting the situation from within the markets that remain open, they have captured the tangible effects of the economic paralysis on local traders and consumers.

FRANCE 24's Emmett Livingstone and Cedric Bengera report straight from one of Uvira's still operating markets

This on-the-ground perspective reveals the stark contrast between Uvira's former economic vibrancy and its current state of commercial stagnation.

The economic collapse in Uvira represents more than a local crisis—it signals broader regional instability with far-reaching consequences. The closure of the Burundi border disrupts established trade patterns that extend well beyond the immediate vicinity of Uvira.

The situation highlights the interconnected nature of regional economies in the Great Lakes region, where conflict in one location can trigger economic ripple effects across multiple countries. The disruption of this key trade route affects not only Uvira's residents but also communities on both sides of the border that depend on this commercial corridor.

The ongoing conflict between DRC forces and M23 rebels continues to create an environment where economic recovery remains impossible, leaving the population of Uvira in a state of prolonged uncertainty.

The situation in Uvira serves as a stark reminder of how armed conflict can devastate civilian economies and livelihoods. The city's economic paralysis demonstrates the immediate and severe consequences that regional instability imposes on commercial centers and border communities.

As long as the border remains closed and the conflict continues, Uvira's economy will remain in its current state of standstill. The path to recovery will require not only the restoration of security but also the reopening of critical trade routes that are essential for the city's economic survival.

The eyes of the international community remain on eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where the human cost of conflict extends far beyond the battlefield and into the empty markets and shuttered businesses of cities like Uvira.