REGIONAL wars in parts of the Common Market for East and Southern Africa, Comesa, are stifling trade which could reduce gains scored in recent years. A Comesa report says that fighting on the horn of Africa, Eritrea-Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo has caused a disruption in trade and fueled congestion in some ports. Exporters and transporters are reluctant to venture into war zones for fear of risks. Trade trebled from $800-million in 1994 to $3-billion in 1998. Regional trade has been growing at 20% per annum since 1995.