KINSHASA, August 27, 2026 — The Democratic Republic of the Congo has officially opened a new border post at Lonshi in Haut-Katanga, expanding government infrastructure along one of the country's economically important frontiers with Zambia.

Vice-Prime Minister and Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo inaugurated the facility on August 26 in the territory of Sakania, approximately 90 kilometres from the town of Sakania.

The opening brings together three government priorities: strengthening national-border security, improving migration controls and creating better conditions for formal cross-border commerce.

Radio Okapi reported that the ceremony was attended by Haut-Katanga's acting governor Martin Kazembe, the director-general of the Directorate General of Migration, or DGM, and other administrative and security officials.

New infrastructure for an important frontier

The Lonshi post contains 17 administrative offices, 22 dormitories for border personnel and a water borehole. These facilities give state agents permanent working and accommodation space in an area where the government wants to improve its control of movements between the DRC and Zambia.

According to BETO's detailed account of the inauguration, the facility was built following a request from Sabwe Mining, which sought a more organized route for importing and exporting mining equipment.

Authorities expect the post to serve a wider public purpose by facilitating legal commercial movements, strengthening migration controls, improving border security and helping combat cross-border fraud.

For Haut-Katanga, where mining, freight transport and regional trade support a large part of the provincial economy, better-organized border services can help reduce informal movements and give public agencies stronger oversight of people and goods crossing the frontier.