Le rôle de l'anglais et du français dans la promotion du commerce transfrontalier entre l'Ouganda et la République démocratique du Congo : une étude de cas des postes-frontières de Mpondwe et Lhubiriha

Abstract

This study examines the role of English and French in promoting cross-border trade between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), focusing on the Mpondwe and Lhubiriha border crossings. It explores how language use affects communication, trade efficiency, and cooperation, emphasizing the importance of multilingual competence for smoother trade relations. Language is essential for cross-border trade, serving as both a communication tool and a catalyst for regional integration and economic development. Uganda is predominantly English-speaking, while the DRC is French-speaking, creating potential barriers at border points. Traders often face misunderstandings, translation errors, and delays, although bilingual traders and interpreters help bridge these gaps (Okombo & Rubagumya, 2013). Regional organizations like the East African Community (EAC) and COMESA advocate multilingualism as a means of facilitating trade (EAC, 2018). Understanding how English and French are used in negotiations, documentation, and relationship-building can inform policies to improve cross-border commerce (Mazrui & Mazrui, 1998). Despite regional integration initiatives, the role of language in trade facilitation remains under- explored. Communication barriers, limited bilingual skills among officials, and the vulnerability of small-scale traders hinder efficient trade processes (Ndhlovu, 2013; OECD, 2019). There is limited empirical evidence on how English and French influence trade dynamics at Mpondwe and Lhubiriha, creating a knowledge gap this study seeks to address.