Zambia closes border with Congo, blocking key copper trade route

The move follows protests in Congo that flared after the government of that country banned certain beverage imports from Zambia

Bloomberg News | August 11, 2024 | 

The Mutanda copper-cobalt mine, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Source: YouTube

Zambia has temporarily shut its borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo, the government said at the weekend, in a move that could delay exports from Africa’s biggest copper producer.


“We have decided to take precautions that we seal the borders for now,” Chipoka Mulenga, Zambia’s Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, said in comments broadcast over state-owned ZNBC Saturday night. “We may start experiencing a build-up of trucks.”

The move follows protests in Congo that flared after the government of that country banned certain beverage imports from Zambia, ZNBC reported. Mulenga didn’t provide a time-frame on how long the government will keep the border closed.

Most of Congo’s copper travels through Zambia to reach regional ports.

(By Matthew Hill)

Russia asks Niger to help as geologists taken hostage

Bloomberg News | August 9, 2024 |

Stock image.

Russia asked the authorities in Niger to help with information after two geologists were apparently taken hostage in the West African country, RIA Novosti reported.


The two employees of an unidentified Russian company came under attack by militants in July, while they were exploring for mineral resources, according to the news service.

A video showing the geologists, one a Russian citizen and the other from Ukraine, as hostages appeared on Aug. 2, RIA Novosti reported Friday, citing Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Niger has forged closer ties with Russia since a coup in the African nation last year, paving the way for Moscow to seek access to mining interests in the country.