The civil society in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, has called on the government to suspend certain taxes, levies, and fees imposed on goods and services in government-controlled areas. In an open letter dated October 2, addressed to the Prime Minister and made public on October 8 in Beni, the civil society cited the region's accumulation of security, humanitarian, health, and economic crises that have severely degraded living conditions.
According to the civil society, the people of North Kivu are facing a grave socio-economic and humanitarian crisis, with households struggling with a continuous rise in prices of essential products. This situation is attributed to increased taxes and fees on goods transiting through the Kasindi border post. The civil society specifically mentioned the case of fuel, where the fee for a cubic meter of fuel has risen from $25 to $100 at the FONER, contributing to a price hike in cities like Beni and Butembo.
The price of fuel has surged to 4,500 Congolese francs per liter in Beni and Butembo, up from the usual 3,800 francs. The civil society attributes this increase to the higher fees imposed on fuel and other goods. The situation is further complicated by restrictive measures aimed at combating the Ebola virus, which have affected the movement of people and goods, disrupting economic activities for many operators in the province.
The civil society argues that a temporary suspension of certain tax collections would provide relief to populations facing war, displacement, health constraints, and growing poverty. They are calling on the government to adopt exceptional measures to support communities in North Kivu during this challenging period. The letter highlights the need for the government to alleviate the burden on households and economic operators severely affected by the current situation.
The region has been experiencing a combination of difficulties, including security crises, humanitarian emergencies, and economic hardships. The civil society believes that suspending certain taxes and fees would help mitigate the impact of these challenges on the local population. They emphasize that the current situation requires urgent and exceptional measures from the government to support the affected communities.
The call for suspension of taxes and fees is part of a broader appeal for the government to address the root causes of the economic hardship in North Kivu. The civil society is urging the government to take concrete steps to alleviate the suffering of the local population and help them recover from the multiple crises they are facing. The situation in North Kivu remains critical, with many residents struggling to access basic necessities.
The government has not yet responded to the civil society's appeal, but it is clear that the situation in North Kivu requires immediate attention and action. The region's economic and humanitarian crises are likely to worsen if urgent measures are not taken to address the root causes of the problems. The civil society's call for suspension of taxes and fees is a step towards finding a solution to the region's challenges.
Key points
- The civil society in North Kivu is calling for a temporary suspension of certain taxes and fees to alleviate the economic hardship faced by the local population.
- The region is experiencing a grave socio-economic and humanitarian crisis, with households struggling with a continuous rise in prices of essential products.
- The government is yet to respond to the civil society's appeal, but it is clear that urgent measures are needed to address the root causes of the problems in North Kivu.
