The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has suspended imports of cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals from South Africa, along with certain related products, citing a resurgence of foot-and-mouth disease, according to a post on its Facebook page.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious transboundary animal disease that can severely disrupt livestock production and trade in animals and animal products. In southern Africa, Zambia also announced biosecurity measures, closing its border in mid-February 2026 to livestock imports from South Africa.

The ministry said all import permits for cattle, other cloven-hoofed animals and related products, including meat, milk, hides and animal feed, have been canceled. Existing permits have been suspended until further notice.

Veterinary services have been instructed to strictly enforce the measures, with reinforced checks at border crossings. The ministry also announced an awareness campaign targeting livestock farmers along the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.

It said it is closely monitoring the outbreak in South Africa, where several cases have been reported in recent weeks.

In South Africa, authorities have stepped up vaccination campaigns among cattle. Local vaccine production is set to begin in March 2026, with an initial target of 20,000 doses per week, rising to 200,000 doses per week in 2027, to reduce reliance on imports and strengthen the country’s animal health response.

Ronsard Luabeya