Economy collapses in Goma after M23 rebels seize control
- M23 rebels seized control of Goma, leading to the closure of the airport and major disruptions to the economy.
- Birere market, once bustling with trade, has ground to a halt, leaving many local merchants struggling.
- The local economy remains stagnant and uncertain, with residents caught in a state of limbo.
Located in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Goma has faced immense challenges following an attack led by M23 rebels, along with their Rwandan allies. This assault occurred late January 2025 and resulted in the seizure of strategic locations, including the city’s airport. As of March 2025, the impact of this conflict has extended beyond immediate violence; the local economy has ground to a complete standstill. The closure of the airport is influencing commerce, restricting both imports and exports that are essential for the livelihoods of local traders and merchants. The Birere market, usually bustling with merchants selling agricultural products from the fertile lands of North Kivu, has become eerily quiet. Traders have reported significant drops in customer traffic, directly attributing these declines to the ongoing economic paralysis. Normally, the market would operate at full capacity, teeming with a variety of goods sourced from not only local farms but also internationally shipped manufactured products. The usual flow of transport and transactions that keeps this market alive has been disrupted, leaving many traders in despair and uncertainty. Darius, a local entrepreneur, provides a personal account of the economic devastation. He used to run a successful business exporting dried fish to Kindu, a city in a neighboring province. However, since the arrival of M23 and RDF forces in late January, not a single plane has departed from Goma's airport, effectively halting his operations and leading to significant financial losses. The absence of commercial flights has crippled the supply chain, highlighting the vulnerability of local businesses dependent on air transport to reach further markets. While fighting may have quieted as the conflict moves further southeast, the remnants of chaos linger in Goma. Its residents are caught in a limbo, where the cessation of hostilities does not equate to restored peace; instead, a pervasive sense of anxiety grips the community. Without urgent interventions to reinstate banking operations and transportation facilities, Goma risks deeper economic despair, and traders such as Darius may find it impossible to recover from the impact of these events.