DRC and Four African Countries Plan One-Stop Border Crossings to Boost Intra-African

Dubai, UAE, February 18, 2026 - The Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Botswana have agreed to establish one-stop border crossings aimed at streamlining trade and reducing transport delays. The project was the focus of a technical meeting in Dubai, attended by the foreign trade ministers of the five countries, representatives from DP World, and the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene. According to Congolese Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya, the initiative, launched during the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, will lower transport costs and make products more competitive. “Following the Addis Ababa meeting, we are continuing discussions here in Dubai with our counterparts from Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, along with AfCFTA and DP World, on the construction of one-stop border crossings to streamline trade and eliminate long vehicle queues at our borders,” said Minister Paluku. AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene highlighted that the initiative supports the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, aiming to further promote intra-African trade. The meeting also addressed the financing model for these border infrastructures.