DRC has announced that it is currently in discussions with Zambia to expedite the reopening of the closed border

The Democratic Republic of Congo announced on Sunday that it had initiated negotiations with Zambia, a day after its southern African neighbor sealed their shared border, thereby impeding a critical export route for Congo, the world’s second-largest copper producer.

The Congolese government’s prohibition of imported soft beverages and beer resulted in demonstrations by Congolese transporters in the town of Kasumbalesa, which is situated on the Zambian border. As a result, Zambian Trade Minister Chipoka Mulenga announced a temporary border closure on Saturday.

The Congolese trade ministry issued a statement announcing that negotiations between the Congolese and Zambian governments have commenced via videoconference as of this Sunday in order to expedite the reopening of the borders.

“In the hours that follow, the two parties will meet in Lubumbashi in Haut-Katanga to find a lasting solution regarding trade.”

In a statement issued earlier on Sunday, Congo’s Trade Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya stated that his ministry had not received any formal notice of a trade dispute from Zambia prior to the announcement of the closure. He provided a comprehensive explanation of the dispute resolution mechanisms and trade agreement between the two nations in the statement.

“There is to date no dispute brought to (the ministry’s) attention in writing or through diplomatic channels,” according to him. “It is willing, if necessary, to examine any request made by the Zambian party bound by the agreement, which also prohibits any retaliatory measures.”

In 2023, Congo was the world’s second-largest producer and third-largest exporter of copper, with an estimated 2.84 million tons produced.

Zambia is a critical export route for the Central African nation. The majority of Congo’s copper exports are routed through the municipality of Kasumbalesa and into Zambia.