Cross-border transporters serving the N1 line north-west of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been alerted to predicted instability starting Monday, January 5.
The Transit Assistance Bureau (Transist) has said it involves the following locations in particular: Likasi, Fungurume and Kolwezi in the heart of the DRC’s copper-mining province of Haut Katanga.
“A month ago, the Congolese government passed a law banning artisanal mining. This has led to ongoing protests from miners demanding its reversal,” the Bureau said.
Because of the volume of supply chain and cargo traffic on the DRC’s N1 route to the Kasumbalesa border into Zambia, Copperbelt hauliers usually bear the brunt of public violence.
Disruption of road freight on the route, responsible for about 70% of the world’s smart-tech related cobalt demand, has already led to the death of a Zambian truck driver and five Congolese miners since the artisanal ban came into force, Transist says.
“This week, the Congolese government aims to resolve the issue, but protests continue, disrupting mining activities and targeting mining companies, truck drivers and Congolese miners.”
The Bureau’s chief executive, Mike Fitzmaurice, has warned that companies whose work involves mining in these cities should proceed with caution.
It is also expected that activities at the Kasumbalesa border, notoriously prone to bottlenecking and extended idling time for long-distance transporters, could be affected.
