The Democratic Republic of Congo announced on Sunday that it had commenced discussions with Zambia after Zambia closed their shared border, disrupting a vital export route for the Congo, the world’s second-largest copper producer.
Zambian Trade Minister Chipoka Mulenga ordered the temporary closure on Saturday following a Congolese ban on imported soft drinks and beer, which led to protests by Congolese transporters in Kasumbalesa, a town on the Zambian border.
According to a statement from the Congolese trade ministry, “Talks between the Congolese and Zambian governments began on Sunday via videoconference to expedite the reopening of the borders.” It also mentioned that “the two sides will convene in Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga, soon to find a long-term trade solution.”
On Sunday, Congo’s Trade Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya mentioned that his ministry had not received any official notification of a trade dispute from Zambia prior to the closure of the border. He provided details about the trade agreement between the two nations and its dispute resolution procedures.
“To date, no formal dispute has been reported to the ministry, either in writing or through diplomatic means,” he said. “The ministry is prepared to review any formal requests from Zambia, adhering to the agreement, which also prohibits retaliatory actions.”
In 2023, Congo ranked as the world’s second-largest copper producer and third-largest exporter, with an annual production of approximately 2.84 million tons. Zambia is an essential transit route for Congo’s copper exports, with most of the shipments passing through Kasumbalesa before reaching Zambia.