Zambia has temporarily shut its border with the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following protests in the DRC over a trade dispute, a move that could significantly disrupt exports from the Congo.
Zambia’s Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga, announced the border closure at the weekend, citing the need for “precautions” after a ban by the Kinshasa authorities on imported soft drinks and beer led to demonstrations by Congolese transporters in the town of Kasumbalesa on the Zambian border.
Mulenga warned that the closure of the border would result in a build-up of trucks at the entry point.
He did not provide a timeline for how long the border would remain closed.
The shutdown will likely have far-reaching implications as the majority of copper mined in the DRC is transported through Zambia before reaching regional ports for export.
The DRC is the world’s largest source of cobalt and Africa’s biggest copper producer.
JN/APA