The Kasumbalesa border, between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia, has been severely congested for weeks. Hundreds of trucks have been stranded for over 50 kilometers on the Zambian side. The situation cripples international trade and costs the DRC billions of dollars each month. 

To unclog the border, officials from both countries met on January 11, in Chililabombwe, Zambia. During the meeting, Jacques Kyabula Katwe, Governor of Haut-Katanga, and Chipoka Mulenga, Zambian Minister of Trade and Industry, announced several measures. Among others, they decided to extend customs operations, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., aiming to process at least 500 trucks daily. Additionally, some traffic will be redirected to the Mokambo and Sakania border crossings to alleviate pressure on Kasumbalesa.

The current congestion is largely attributed to the limited working hours of Congolese customs services, which operate from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is too short to handle increased imports, especially during peak seasons, leading to delays in goods processing. Due to the situation, some carriers have been bypassing official procedures by unloading cargo in Zambia, and then passing them to the DRC through illegal channels, depriving the Congolese state of vital customs revenues.

While laudable, the recent measures will not be enough to deal without a long-term commitment.  Southern African Development Community (SADC) standards require border posts to run throughout the whole day. Enhancing infrastructure, increasing staffing, and implementing more efficient measures to tackle customs fraud will be crucial. Also, stronger coordination between the DRC and Zambia will ensure smooth and secure cross-border trade in the long term.

This article was initially published in French by Olivier de Souza

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho