Zambia and Congo have agreed to reopen their border on Monday after resolving a trade dispute that led Zambia to close the border over the weekend.
In a joint statement, the commerce ministers of both countries announced, “The Zambian party informed the Congolese party that the border will be reopened to allow the free movement of people and goods between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Zambia.”
Zambia’s Minister of Commerce, Trade, and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga, met with Congolese officials in Lubumbashi, near the border, to address the issue.
Zambia had closed its border with Congo after the latter imposed a ban on the import of soft drinks and beer from Zambia.
This action led to protests by Congolese truckers near the border town of Kasumbalesa, and Zambian business groups also voiced concerns. The Zambian Association of Manufacturers warned that the ban could set a “dangerous precedent for future trade relations.”
The border closure posed a significant threat to Congo’s ability to export its minerals. Landlocked Congo, which has vast reserves of gold, copper, and cobalt in its eastern region, relies heavily on Zambia as a key transit route for exporting these resources.
Congo is the world’s largest producer of cobalt, a critical material used in batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones, and computers. Zambia also plays a crucial role as a gateway for Congo’s imports.
Congo’s trade ministry expressed surprise at Zambia’s border closure, noting that it had not received a formal complaint beforehand. The ministry expressed hope that the talks in Lubumbashi would lead to “a lasting solution.”
