Key Messages
- The security situation remained precarious in July, leading to further population displacements and incidents targeting humanitarian workers. Armed groups continue to attack civilians, but no significant territorial gains have been made since June. In Ituri, CODECO and ZAIRE militiamen clashed in Djugu territory, while the ADF continued their attacks on the populations in Lubero and Beni in North Kivu, where clashes between the FARDC and the M23/RDF persist. There have also been renewed attacks by Mobondo militiamen in Mai-Ndombe Province and neighboring Kwilu Province (Bagata territory). Conflict is leading to high levels of acute food insecurity, partly due to conflict-related disruptions to production and supply. The June 2024 harvest, which was below average in conflict zones due to reductions in cultivated area, did not significantly improve food consumption among poor households. Area-level Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are expected, with a proportion of displaced households in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) until January 2025.
- Although inflation has slowed considerably compared to 2023, the depreciation of the local currency (CDF) continues to exacerbate price levels. According to the Central Bank of Congo (BCC), annual inflation stood at 15.1 percent at the end of July, compared with 30.25 percent in July 2023. At the same time, prices of staple foods – notably imported – have risen. The price of local yellow maize in Kinshasa increased 26.8 percent compared with July 2023, while the price of imported rice increased by 11 and 28.42 percent compared to July 2023 and the five-year average, respectively. The increased prices restrict already limited purchasing power and reduce the ability of poor households to meet their essential food and non-food needs.
- July marks the season 1 post-harvest period across most of the country. In areas unaffected by conflict, most households are meeting their basic food needs due to the recent harvest but may struggle meeting non-food needs due to high prices and limited income-generating opportunities. In conflict zones, below-average localized harvests in June 2024 resulted in a marginal improvement in food availability; similar outcomes are expected for the season 2 harvest in January. Displaced households, who lack secure access to land for own-production or to forests for gathering, will depend on the market for food. They will use coping strategies indicative of Crisis (IPC Phase 3), such as selling productive assets or skipping meals.
- In the central basin areas (notably the province of Équateur), repeated natural disasters have eroded livelihoods and household incomes. Although river levels have returned to normal, many flood-affected households are using negative coping strategies, such as eating less preferred foods or cutting back on other essential expenses. These areas are facing Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes. Areas that experienced severe flooding in April and May (Bikoro, Lukolela, Bomongo, Bokungu, Monkoto) will be in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) due to the ongoing recovery. In contrast, the southwestern areas (Kinshasa, Bandundu, Kongo Central) are safe and economically integrated, with more diverse income opportunities for poor households; they are expected to face Minimal (IPC Phase 1) outcomes until January 2025. Similarly, secure areas in the southeast are also expected to face Minimal (IPC Phase 1) outcomes due to the income-earning opportunities available from mining and petty trade.