Zambia has temporarily closed its borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a decision that may impact the export activities of Africa’s largest copper producer. Chipoka Mulenga, Zambia’s Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, announced the closure over state-owned ZNBC, stating that the government is taking precautionary measures to manage the situation, which could lead to a backlog of trucks at the border.
The border closure comes in response to recent protests in the DRC, triggered by the Congolese government’s decision to ban certain beverage imports from Zambia. Mulenga did not specify how long the border will remain closed, leaving uncertainty about when normal trade operations might resume.
