Zambia and Congo reopen their border after resolving a trade dispute

Zambia and Congo agreed to reopen their shared 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 that Zambia would reopen the border, restoring the free movement of people and goods between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.

The decision followed a meeting between Zambia’s Minister of Commerce, Trade, and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga, and Congolese officials in Lubumbashi, near the border.

Zambia had closed the border with its northern neighbor on Sunday in response to Congo’s ban on the import of soft drinks and beer from Zambia. The ban sparked protests from Congolese truckers near the border town of Kasumbalesa, and Zambian business groups voiced strong opposition to the restriction. The Zambian Association of Manufacturers warned that the ban could set a “dangerous precedent for future trade relations.”

Zambia’s closure of the border posed a significant threat to Congo’s export of minerals, as Congo, a landlocked country, relies heavily on Zambia as a transit route. Congo is the world’s largest producer of cobalt, a mineral essential for the batteries used in electric vehicles, smartphones, and computers. The country also has vast reserves of gold and copper, much of which is transported through Zambia to reach coastal ports for shipping.

Congo’s Trade Ministry expressed concern over the border closure, noting that it had not received a formal complaint from Zambia before the action was taken. The ministry expressed hope that the discussions in Lubumbashi would lead to “a lasting solution.”