Kasumbalesa Corridor Reopens After Heavy Rains Damage Road
Infrastructure Minister Milupi confirms alternative border crossings remain available as repairs are completed
The Kasumbalesa border crossing — the main transit route for copper, cobalt and other mineral exports from the Democratic Republic of Congo through Zambia — has resumed operations following emergency repairs after heavy rains washed out a section of road.
Infrastructure Minister Charles Milupi confirmed the reopening after the corridor was suspended on Sunday when seasonal rains caused significant damage to the road surface. Footage circulating on social media showed freight trucks and pedestrians stranded along the route, underscoring the corridor's critical importance to regional trade flows.
While repairs were under way, Minister Milupi advised freight operators from both countries to use the Mokambo crossing in Mufulira or the Sakanya border post near Ndola as alternative routes. The Sakanya diversion is considerably longer — nearly three times the distance of the standard Kasumbalesa run — but provided a viable passage during the disruption.
Kasumbalesa is the busiest crossing for DRC mineral shipments, with the bulk of Congo's copper and cobalt production destined for China and the United States passing through Zambian territory. The DRC is Africa's largest copper producer and accounts for more than 70% of global cobalt output, making uninterrupted access through the Zambia corridor of significant commercial and strategic importance.
No major mining company reported that shipments were formally held up during the closure period. Key operators in the DRC's copper belt include CMOC, Glencore, Ivanhoe Mines and Eurasian Resources Group.
The incident is a reminder of the infrastructure vulnerabilities along the Central African copper corridor and the importance of Zambia's road network to the region's mining export chain. Investment in road resilience along key trade arteries has been a recurring priority in discussions between Zambia and its regional partners.