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On Monday, August 12, the trade ministers of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) met in Lubumbashi in an attempt to end the trade conflict that led to the closure of the border between the two countries on August 10. The situation arose from the DRC’s ban on the import of a number of products from Zambia, including beer, soft drinks and limes, for one year.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has justified these bans by claiming that certain imported products, especially beverages, cause inflation. In fact, Kinshasa seeks to protect local industry, especially the three breweries that produce these beverages on Congolese territory. This protectionist measure aims to support the national economy by supporting local production instead of imports.
Zambia was quick to respond. In response, the country decided to close its border posts with the Democratic Republic of Congo, a decision that could have a significant impact on Congo’s exports, especially its copper industry. The Democratic Republic of Congo produced more than 2.8 million tons of copper last year and is almost entirely dependent on Zambia for exports of the metal, which is vital to its economy.
The prospect of this meeting is crucial because mining in southern Congo is the backbone of the country’s economy. A prolonged border closure would not only affect exports but also increase economic and social tensions in the region.
However, the Zambian government clarified that the border closure was mainly to protect Zambian truck drivers following demonstrations on the Congolese side. The temporary measure shows the importance of ensuring security while working to resolve the trade conflict.
This is not the first time that tensions at border posts between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo have paralyzed trade in the region. In 2022, a truckers’ strike launched after the deaths of two Zambian drivers already led to long queues on both sides of the border, disrupting trade for days.
The Zambian delegation arrived at the Kasumbalesa Customs Office, 100 kilometres from Lubumbashi, this Monday for discussions with the Kinshasa authorities, in particular with the Minister of Foreign Trade, His Excellency Julian Paluku (Monday, August 12, 2024) pic.twitter.com/mVLjOrLYWV
— Isaac Creeper (@Isaac Creeper) August 12, 2024
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