Zambia Decides to Reopen Its Closed Border with DRC

August 13, 2024

(Minutes Read)

Zambia will reopen its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after sealing it at the weekend due to protests, blocking a key export route for the world’s second-largest copper producer, the two countries said in a joint statement. The border, which was closed following an announcement by Zambian Trade Minister Chipoka Mulenga on Saturday, will reopen on Tuesday, according to a separate statement from Congo’s Trade Ministry. DRC said it would authorise the import of goods covered under the ban whose importation had been initiated before the ban came into effect.

Zambia’s decision to close its border with DR Congo has created a crisis for the world’s second-largest copper producer as both countries are in urgent talks to reopen the border and restore trade. Zambian Trade Minister Chipoka Mulenga announced a temporary border closure on Saturday after a Congolese ban on imported soft drinks and beer led to demonstrations by Congolese transporters in the town of Kasumbalesa on the Zambian border. Mulenga announced a Congolese ban on imported soft drinks and beer led to demonstrations by Congolese transporters in the border town of Kasumbalesa.

Congo’s Trade Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya said in an earlier statement that his ministry had received no formal notice of a trade dispute from Zambia before it announced the closure. In the statement, he detailed the two countries’ trade agreement and its dispute settlement mechanisms. There is to date no dispute brought to (the ministry’s) attention in writing or through diplomatic channels

Congo was the world’s no. 2 producer and no. 3 exporter of copper in 2023, producing about 2.84 million tons. Zambia is a key export route for the Central African country. Most of Congo’s copper exports pass through the town of Kasumbalesa and into Zambia.