LUSAKA, Zambia -- Zambia and Congo agreed to reopen their border on Monday after resolving a trade dispute between the countries that led to Zambia closing the border over the weekend.

Zambia has notified the Democratic Republic of Congo that the border will be reopened to facilitate the unrestricted passage of people and goods between the two nations, according to a joint statement from the ministers of commerce of both countries.

Zambia's minister of commerce, trade, and industry, Chipoka Mulenga, held discussions with Congolese officials in the border city of Lubumbashi.

Zambia declared on Sunday that it had shut down its frontier with its neighboring country to the north after Congo prohibited the importation of soft drinks and beer from Zambia. This action led to demonstrations by Congolese truck drivers close to the border city of Kasumbalesa. Zambian trade associations also condemned the prohibition.

The Zambian Association of Manufacturers warned that this could establish a harmful pattern for future commercial interactions.

Zambia's closure of its border jeopardized Congo's capacity to export its minerals. Landlocked Congo possesses vast reserves of gold, copper, and cobalt in its mineral-rich eastern region. A significant portion of these minerals is transported through Zambia en route to the coast for shipping.

Congo is the leading global producer of cobalt, a mineral in high demand used in batteries powering electric vehicles, smartphones and computers.

Zambia serves as a crucial entry point for goods entering Congo.

The Congolese trade ministry stated that they had not received an official complaint from Zambia prior to the border closure, questioning the rationale behind the action. They expressed hope that the discussions in Lubumbashi would lead to "a long-term resolution."

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