Zambia blocks key copper trade route in DRC border closure
TLDR
- Zambia temporarily closes border with DRC affecting copper exports.
- Decision made due to protests in Congo over banned beverage imports from Zambia.
- Uncertainty around duration of border closure poses transport challenges for Congo's copper exports.
Zambia has temporarily closed its borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), potentially delaying exports from Africa's largest copper producer.
The decision, announced by Zambia’s Minister of Commerce, Trade, and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga, on state-owned ZNBC, was taken as a precautionary measure following protests in Congo. These protests erupted after the Congolese government banned certain beverage imports from Zambia.
Mulenga did not specify how long the border closure would last, but the move could significantly impact the transport of Congo's copper, which primarily passes through Zambia to reach regional ports.
Key Takeaways
The DRC announced on Sunday that it has initiated discussions with Zambia on the closure of their shared border, which is a crucial export route for the DRC, the world's second-largest copper producer. The Congolese trade ministry confirmed that talks began via videoconference, intending to swiftly reopen the borders. The ministry also mentioned that both parties are scheduled to meet in Lubumbashi, located in Haut-Katanga, to seek a lasting solution to the trade issues that led to the border closure.
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