Fierce fighting in the highlands of South Kivu has turned the remote village of Point Zéro into the latest focal point of the conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The escalation marks a significant geographical shift in the war, as rebel forces and the national army struggle for control of a location that serves as a vital gateway to regional trade hubs and mineral-rich territories.
Point Zéro is situated at a strategic crossroads in the Kalehe territory, perched in the high-altitude plateaus that overlook the Ruzizi Plain. For several weeks, the village has been the site of intense clashes between the M23 rebel group, supported by Rwandan forces according to UN experts, and a coalition consisting of the Congolese army (FARDC) and local “Wazalendo” militias. The outcome of this specific battle carries profound implications for the security of the Goma-Bukavu axis, a critical corridor for the movement of goods and people in the eastern provinces.
The strategic importance of the village lies in its topography. From the heights of Point Zéro, military forces can control the movement of troops and supplies between North and South Kivu. If the M23 maintains its hold on these highlands, it gains the ability to bypass major military checkpoints on the lower roads and advance toward Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu. This threat has already led to the displacement of thousands of civilians and the suspension of commercial transport along several rural routes.
Reports from the Kivu Security Tracker indicate that the fighting has intensified as both sides recognise that Point Zéro is the “lock” to the southern highlands. Military analysts suggest that losing this position would leave the Congolese government forces unable to protect the mining zones further west, which are essential to the local and national economy. The insecurity has already begun to affect the supply chains of artisanal and industrial mining operations in the region.
Supply Chain Risks and Regional Economic Disruption
While the conflict is often framed in purely military terms, the battle for Point Zéro is inextricably linked to the economic stability of the Great Lakes region. The Eastern DRC is a primary source of the world’s tantalum, tin, and tungsten, known as the 3Ts, as well as gold. Insecurity in the South Kivu highlands directly threatens the logistics networks that transport these minerals from remote mines to international markets via the ports of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.
International observers and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) have expressed concern that the M23’s southern push is designed to strangulate the economic life of Goma and Bukavu. By controlling high-ground positions like Point Zéro, rebel forces can effectively levy illegal taxes on trade or shut down transit routes entirely. This tactic has been used successfully in North Kivu, where the encirclement of Goma has led to a sharp increase in the price of food and basic commodities.
The commercial consequences extend beyond the mining sector. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Kivu, particularly those involved in agriculture and cross-border trade with Rwanda and Burundi, are facing rising operational costs. Insurance premiums for cargo transport have spiked, and many logistics companies have reduced their fleets in the area due to the high risk of ambush or forced requisition by armed groups.
According to a recent report by The Africa Report, the intensity of the fighting at Point Zéro reflects a broader regional power struggle. The Kinshasa government has accused Kigali of using the M23 to secure a permanent influence over the DRC’s mineral wealth, a claim Rwanda consistently denies. However, the presence of sophisticated weaponry and the scale of the offensive at Point Zéro suggest a level of support that exceeds the capabilities of a typical domestic insurgency.
For the business community, the immediate concern is the potential for a total blockade of the main supply routes into Bukavu. The city relies heavily on imports of manufactured goods and fuel. If the highlands remain a combat zone, the cost of living for millions of Congolese citizens will continue to rise, further destabilising an already fragile regional economy. Investors in the mining sector are also closely monitoring the situation to determine if their operations need to be placed under “force majeure” status.
The next phase of the conflict will likely depend on the effectiveness of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC). While SADC troops have been deployed to support the FARDC, their presence in the South Kivu highlands has so far been limited. A decisive military intervention or a credible ceasefire agreement remains the only viable path to restoring the trade corridors that are currently under threat at Point Zéro.
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