Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have agreed to reopen their shared border after a brief closure triggered by a trade dispute.
The border, which was closed on Sunday following a Congolese ban on Zambian soft drinks and beer, will resume normal operations on Monday.
The decision to reopen the border came after a meeting between Zambian Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Chipoka Mulenga and Congolese officials in the border city of Lubumbashi. In a joint statement, the two countries announced the reopening, emphasizing the importance of free movement of people and goods.
Zambia’s closure of the border had sparked protests by Congolese truckers and drew criticism from Zambian business groups, which warned of potential damage to trade relations.
The Zambian Association of Manufacturers expressed concern that the dispute could set a dangerous precedent.
The border closure posed a significant challenge to Congo, a landlocked nation heavily reliant on Zambia for exporting its mineral wealth, including gold, copper, and cobalt.
As the world’s largest producer of cobalt, a crucial component in electric vehicle batteries, the disruption in trade raised concerns about global supply chains.
While Congo’s trade ministry expressed surprise at Zambia’s border closure and questioned the lack of a formal complaint, both countries have expressed optimism about finding a lasting solution to the trade dispute.