Road Closures Intensify Humanitarian Crisis in Masisi, North Kivu

The Democratic Republic of Congo's Masisi territory in North Kivu is grappling with a suffocating socio-economic crisis following the prolonged closure of vital road networks. The Ngungu-Remeka and Rubaya-Remeka routes have been impassable for over a week, severely disrupting the lives of residents in the Bahunde chiefdom.

The blockades are reportedly orchestrated by the AFC/M23, a rebel group, in response to offensives launched by the Wazalendo self-defense militias. This ongoing conflict has choked off commercial exchanges and halted the supply of essential goods to civilian populations caught in the crossfire. The impact is particularly dire in the Ufamandu and Katoyi areas, where the supply chain has been devastated.

Residents are facing a severe shortage of basic necessities as fuel and manufactured goods from Goma and Sake can no longer reach the interior. Compounding the crisis, agricultural harvests are rotting in the fields. Produce from Ufamandu and Katoyi remains stranded, unable to reach the commercial center of Ngungu, leading to significant food waste.

The security situation remains highly volatile, with territory control shifting between belligerents. Recent clashes saw Wazalendo forces retake Kasake, only for AFC/M23 to dislodge them from Ngingwe and Malemo. The proliferation of armed groups further increases the risk of ambushes, with a recent attack on a merchant convoy between Goma and Walikale highlighting the dangers faced by civilians and traders.

In response to the looming threat of a complete supply breakdown and the persistent violence against civilians, Masisi's civil society is sounding the alarm. They are urgently calling for the immediate reopening of the affected roads to ensure the free movement of people and goods, emphasizing the critical need for humanitarian access.