Congo Copperbelt Unrest Disrupts Freight as Trucks Attacked Between Likasi and Lubumbashi
Road freight operators moving along the Copperbelt route in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been warned to avoid the Likasi–Lubumbashi corridor after escalating unrest led to violent attacks on trucks.
According to the Transit Assistance Bureau (Transist Bureau), at least 20 trucks were stoned at Kanyaka Truck Park on August 12, with windshields and side windows smashed by protestors.
The violence stems from growing tension between rival gangs, compounded by a strike involving drivers in the region.
“It’s total chaos at the moment,” said Mike Fitzmaurice, Chief Executive of Transist Bureau. “It’s not safe at all, and transporters should proceed with the utmost caution. Between Lubumbashi and Likasi, logistics has ground to a halt.”
Hauliers have been advised not to leave Kanyaka and to find secure parking until conditions stabilize.
In the meantime, transporters are being charged $25 per day for remaining at Kanyaka, a fee many operators describe as “penalty money” given that it is not the first time customs authorities in Haut-Katanga have exploited such situations.
Fitzmaurice added that drivers working for a local haulier, Hakuna Matata, had gone on strike, further worsening disruptions.
The unrest follows an incident on August 11, when a four-truck convoy narrowly escaped cargo-in-transit (CIT) theft at Tumbwe, 30 km north of Lubumbashi.
Criminal syndicates have increasingly targeted copper shipments, with recent hijackings of flatbed trucks carrying ore.
Reports suggest that stolen rigs are often “retrieved” by police and returned to owners for bribes of up to $50,000 per truck.
The Likasi–Lubumbashi route forms a critical link in the Copperbelt, a region central to the global supply of copper and cobalt.
Haut-Katanga Province alone accounts for a significant portion of cobalt exports, a mineral essential for electric vehicle batteries and smart technologies.
With freight operations disrupted and trucks under attack, analysts warn that the instability could ripple across global markets.
“It’s a no-go zone at the moment,” Fitzmaurice concluded.
