Beni, North Kivu – Commercial transporters operating in the Beni territory of North Kivu have accused Wazalendo rebels of operating an illegal taxation system on major transport corridors, saying the practice has become widespread and is further crippling trade in a region already affected by years of armed conflict.
According to local testimonies, truck drivers and transport operators are increasingly being compelled to obtain unofficial documents and make unauthorized payments at roadblocks controlled by armed groups before they are allowed to move cargo.
One of the documents circulating among transporters is a “Jeton de Chargement” (Loading Token) bearing the letterhead of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s National Intelligence Agency (Agence Nationale de Renseignement – ANR).
The document is marked “ANR/DSI – Poste Maboya, Sous Poste Butuhe” and contains spaces for the truck owner’s name, driver’s identity, vehicle make, registration number, loading point and destination.
It also carries a signature from the CSP/Butuhe office and is dated 2026, suggesting that transporters are expected to present the form before transporting goods.
While the document itself does not explicitly state that a fee is payable, transporters allege that such paperwork is being used alongside illegal checkpoints where payments are demanded from commercial vehicles.
The alleged taxation network has raised concerns among traders and transport companies, who say the growing number of unofficial roadblocks is increasing transport costs and delaying the movement of agricultural produce and essential commodities between Beni, Butembo and surrounding areas.
The accusations come against the backdrop of a long-running security crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 120 armed groups are estimated to be active, contributing to one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises with millions of internally displaced people.
Victims are now urging authorities to fully implement the commitments contained in the Washington Peace Agreement signed in June 2025 between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
The agreement includes provisions aimed at restoring security, dismantling illegal armed structures and neutralizing negative armed forces, including the FDLR, through a joint security coordination mechanism.
Transporters argue that genuine implementation of these commitments would help eliminate illegal roadblocks, restore state authority along key transport routes and end the extortion that has become a daily burden for civilians and businesses.
Security analysts have warned that several armed groups operating under the Wazalendo umbrella have developed localized taxation systems in areas under their influence, collecting revenue from transporters and traders to sustain their operations.
No immediate response had been issued by Congolese authorities regarding the latest allegations from transporters in Beni territory.