The Democratic Republic of Congo faces a potential double supply shock in its beef market, following the suspension of livestock imports from South Africa and disruptions along the Kasumbalesa corridor, a key transit route between Zambia and southeastern Congo.

The Congolese Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock announced on Feb. 26, 2026, that it was suspending imports of cattle and other cloven-hoofed livestock, as well as certain related products, citing a resurgence of foot-and-mouth disease in South Africa. Import permits have been canceled or suspended, and veterinary checks tightened at border posts. The ministry said it is monitoring developments in South Africa.

At the same time, Zambia has begun exporting beef to the Congolese market. President Hakainde Hichilema announced the first shipment to the DRC on Oct. 14, 2025. According to the Daily Mail, the initial consignment, valued at $62,635, forms part of a national strategy to raise beef exports to $1 billion by 2030. The DRC and Angola have been identified as priority markets. Farmers are expected to receive about $4.5 per kilogram, with final market prices estimated at around $9 per kilogram.

To ensure exports meet health standards, the Zambian presidency said small-scale farmers have been integrated into a system aligned with export requirements. Cattle undergo at least one month of quarantine before being slaughtered in licensed abattoirs. The veterinary department certifies that animals are disease-free through Animal Disease-Free Compartments (ADFC), supported by accredited laboratories including the National Livestock Epidemiology and Information Centre (NALEIC), as well as private partners overseeing pre-export health surveillance.

However, the main transport route used for these shipments is currently disrupted. ZNBC reported that the first consignment, slaughtered in Kalomo in October 2025, was transported to the DRC via the Kasumbalesa border post. Traffic along this route has been affected since the night of Feb. 28, 2026, after the Kakoso bridge collapsed following heavy rains, according to the Road Development Agency. The agency said work is underway to build a temporary bypass and restore traffic.

Timothée Manoke