PROLIFÉRATION DES MARCHÉS PIRATES ET RECOMPOSITION DU FONCTIONNEMENT URBAIN DE LA VILLE DE KANANGA

Abstract

This article examines the proliferation of informal or so-called “pirate” markets and their effects on the urban functioning of Kananga. It argues that street and informal trade should be understood simultaneously as a livelihood strategy and as a mechanism of urban-space production. The study uses a mixed-methods approach combining documentary review, direct observation, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The empirical results reported in this article come from a field survey conducted from 20 May to 30 June 2026 among 150 respondents distributed equally across the five municipalities under study. The findings show that 60.7% of respondents believe open-air selling facilitates product sales, while 64.0% identify insufficient capital as the main reason for using informal markets and 62.0% associate their persistence with financial hardship. Furthermore, 91.3% report a negative attitude toward authorities when they prohibit these activities, highlighting the gap between regulatory objectives and the economic constraints experienced by traders. The article concludes that enforcement alone cannot provide sustainable regulation. It recommends integrated urban governance based on spatial organization, neighborhood markets, improved sanitation infrastructure, easier access to regulated commercial spaces and GIS-based monitoring of commercial occupations.