BUJUMBURA: During Monday's truce in anti-government protests, Renovat Ndayizeye was quick to try to reopen his stall in Jabe market in Burundi's capital. He has scarcely sold a single pair of shoes since demonstrations began weeks ago, and he is getting desperate.
"I haven't worked since the protests began, we are living on our savings, and now I have nothing," said the 26-year old salesman, surrounded by others who had taken advantage of a pause in the protests to reopen their small wooden shack shops.
Some customers did turn up to shop, but only for basic necessities like rice, meat, vegetables and soap.
Across the Burundian capital, business has been paralysed since demonstrators opposed to President Pierre Nkurunziza's third term bid began street protests, leading to almost daily, violent clashes with police. For over a month, customers have deserted the market and traders have left their goods locked up in the once teeming alleys.
The consequences of the political crisis in Burundi, and the protests primarily in its capital, are dramatic for traders like Ndayizeye, but also potentially disastrous for the country's already faltering economy.
The tiny Great Lakes nation was ravaged by a 13-year civil war that ended in 2006 and today is one of the poorest countries on the planet: gross national income per capita is $260 (238 euros), 58 percent of the population suffers chronic malnutrition, it exports very little, produces too little to feed itself and is riddled with corruption.
Many of the demonstrations have taken place on the outskirts of Bujumbura, fuelled by poverty and unemployment. This does not prevent them from playing the economic card, erecting barricades to prevent people from reaching their workplaces in order to hit the economy and force the president to abandon a third term bid they believe is unconstitutional.
Protesters are seeking to "turn Bujumbura into a dead city," fumed a senior official in the ruling CNDD-FDD party. "The impact of the demonstrations on the economy is real. It is a terrible weapon."
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