The crossing English Version - International Alert

The Crossing11monitor the crossing on the Gisenyi side, but the RRA collects no tariffs. On the Goma side,several authorities are present, notably the military intelligences services (DMIAP and T2), whichboth collect informal tariffs.2.1.1 Socio-demographic and economic characteristicsThe study shows that 35 percent of small-scale traders have not been to school at all and that 91percent went no further than primary school. The low level of education is hardly surprising, giventhat the majority of small-scale traders are women (86 percent) who often have great difficulty inaccessing education. The average age of cross-border traders is 27.6 years 109 and 10 percent areyounger than 18 years.Diagram 1. Proportion of traders by household responsibilityOthers 24%, Head of household 24%,Spouse 47%Among traders, 29 percent are headsof household, 47 percent are spousesand 24 percent are children or otherhousehold members. Thus, 76 percentof traders have household responsibility,either as main earner or spouse.For the purpose of this study ‘head of household’ refers to the man or woman in charge ofhousehold resources. ‘Spouses’ are the wives of heads of household. A woman might also be headof the household (a widow living with her children, a separated woman, a single woman withresponsibilities).The majority (68 percent) of small-scale traders in agricultural goods who cross the Goma-Gisenyi border are Rwandan. At Gabiro cemetery, however, 58 percent of small-scale traders areCongolese because taxes are only levied on the DRC side and the Rwandan authorities do notrecognise it as an official crossing point. Conversely, at Grande Barrière, the majority (83 percent)of small-scale traders are Rwandan.Table 1: Distribution of traders by nationalityCrossing point Number Congolese nationality % Rwandan nationality %Petit Barrière 626 179 29 447 71Grande Barrière 192 33 17 159 83Gabiro 187 108 58 79 42Total 1,005 320 32 685 68The average number of people per household is 5.7 and 84 percent of traders’ households arecomposed of more than three.10 9 ET = 8.9 years.