MINEMBWE, South Kivu — For the first time in years, residents of Minembwe are once again shopping in a fully functioning marketplace after the reopening of supply routes that had been cut off during years of conflict in South Kivu.
The renewed flow of goods follows the recent capture of Point Zero, a strategically important position that supporters of the AFC/M23 alliance say ended a prolonged blockade imposed on the Banyamulenge stronghold of Minembwe.
Local residents say the reopening of the route has transformed daily life almost overnight. Basic commodities that were once scarce or prohibitively expensive are now readily available, with community members claiming prices of some essential goods have fallen by as much as 95 percent.
Supporters of the AFC/M23 alliance attribute the breakthrough to the defeat of the FDLR, Burundian forces, Wazalendo militias and troops aligned with the Kinshasa government, whom they accuse of maintaining the blockade that isolated the area for years.
During a visit to the reopened market, a senior AFC/M23 commander joined residents in celebrating what many described as the return of normal economic life.
“Let us first thank God for giving us this market,” the commander told the gathering before inviting a respected community elder to address the crowd.
The elder, visibly emotional, described the reopening of the market as the fulfillment of years of prayer.
“We thank God because He has answered our prayers,” he said. “Today I have seen sugar here. I have seen milk. I have seen many other products. Everything we wished for has become available. Our people used to travel all the way to Kigoma under extremely difficult conditions just to buy basic necessities. God has resolved that suffering.”
He urged traders to conduct business honestly, avoid exploiting customers and ensure that only quality goods are sold in the market.
“Treat people fairly,” he told merchants. “Do not take advantage of those who have suffered for so many years.”
For many residents, the significance of the market extends far beyond commerce. The restoration of supply routes means families no longer have to undertake long and often dangerous journeys in search of food and household essentials.
Goods that had disappeared from local shelves are gradually returning, easing the cost of living for communities that endured years of shortages and economic isolation.
The gathering also touched on a very different subject: misinformation.
Addressing residents and local journalists, the community elder warned about the growing misuse of artificial intelligence to create fabricated audio and video recordings.
“Artificial Intelligence can reproduce my voice after recording it,” he said. “Someone can make it appear that I have said something I never said. I urge everyone, including journalists, to verify information carefully before believing or sharing it.”
His remarks reflected increasing awareness of digital disinformation, even in remote parts of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where manipulated content has become an increasingly common feature of the conflict.
The reopening of Minembwe’s market comes amid continuing international debate over the conflict in eastern DRC. Supporters of the Banyamulenge community argue that the return of trade demonstrates the humanitarian impact of restoring security, saying civilians can once again access affordable food, medicine and other essential supplies.
They have also criticized international sanctions imposed on General Sematama, arguing that despite such measures, military operations by AFC/M23 and its allies have enabled communities that had long been isolated to reconnect with markets and rebuild local economic activity.
While competing narratives over the conflict continue to divide regional governments, armed groups and international actors, residents in Minembwe say the most immediate change is visible in the marketplace itself; where stocked shelves, returning traders and sharply lower prices have replaced years of scarcity and uncertainty.