DRC and Zambia Sign Pact to Accelerate One-Stop Border Posts
DRC–Zambia Agreement to Build One-Stop Border Posts Aims to Cut Costs and Boost Regional Trade
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional trade cooperation with the signing of a bilateral agreement on the construction and operation of One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs).
The agreement was signed in Lusaka on Thursday, December 4, 2025, by the Congolese Minister of Foreign Trade, Julien Paluku Kahongya, and the Zambian Minister of Trade and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga, on the sidelines of the 46th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
The document covers the border crossings of Kasumbalesa, Kambimba, Sakanya, Kipushi and Mokambo—strategic points for trade between the two countries and the wider region.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the introduction of these one-stop facilities will simplify border procedures by enabling customs, immigration and health checks to be carried out jointly by both countries at a single location.
This reform is expected to lower logistics costs, reduce transit times and improve the flow of goods. It is also aligned with COMESA’s objectives to facilitate trade and promote regional economic integration.
For the DRC, making these border posts fully operational is seen as a key step toward improving the competitiveness of “Made in DRC” products in regional markets. Congolese authorities believe that streamlined border procedures will help boost exports, particularly for businesses that have long faced administrative delays and high transaction costs.
The agreement fits within broader efforts to modernize trade corridors linking the DRC with its neighbors and to implement regional commitments under COMESA.
The next stage will involve defining the technical, financial and operational arrangements required to bring the one-stop border posts into service as quickly as possible.
