Zambia has agreed to reopen its border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after a brief closure over the weekend due to a trade dispute. Zambia had closed the border after the DRC banned the import of soft drinks and beer from its southern neighbor. The decision threatened the DRC’s mineral exports, with a significant volume transported through Zambia to coastal shipping points. Unsurprisingly, it proved unpopular, sparking protests from Congolese truckers near the border town of Kasumbalesa and criticism from Zambian business groups. Following the backlash, Zambia’s Commerce, Trade, and Industry Minister Chipoka Mulenga traveled to the Congolese city of Lubumbashi, where he met with Congolese officials to resolve the issue.
SOURCE: DW
