Key facts
- DR Congo banned mass gatherings in Kinshasa, Tshopo, Haut-Uele, and Bas-Uele provinces.
- The ban was issued by the interior ministry, citing Ebola transmission risk.
- None of the banned provinces have confirmed Ebola cases.
- The Ebola outbreak has infected 1,307 people and killed 377 across three eastern provinces.
- Opposition groups allege the ban is politically motivated to suppress dissent.
- The mayor of Goma also banned public gatherings.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has banned public gatherings in the capital, Kinshasa, and three other provinces, citing the growing Ebola outbreak as justification. The decision, announced by the interior ministry, covers Kinshasa, Tshopo, Haut-Uele, and Bas-Uele provinces, none of which have reported confirmed Ebola cases. Officials stated the ban is a preventative measure against the virus spreading into new areas.
However, opposition and civil society groups have condemned the ban, calling it unconstitutional and a move to suppress dissent. They allege the ban is politically motivated to prevent a planned demonstration against proposed constitutional changes that could allow President Felix Tshisekedi to seek a third term. The mayor of Goma, a city in eastern Congo now under rebel control, also imposed a ban on public gatherings.
The Ebola outbreak, which began in May, has infected 1,307 people and caused 377 deaths across three eastern provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu. President Tshisekedi announced a $319 million response plan and urged citizens to respect health guidelines. The World Health Organization has noted that rebel violence in eastern Congo is hindering response efforts, with attacks by the Allied Democratic Force cutting off access to villages and displacing populations.
The United Nations has warned that if the virus spreads to neighboring countries like Rwanda and Angola, it could cost Africa up to $3.6 billion and lead to 328,000 job losses. Cases have also been confirmed in neighboring Uganda, and one case in France involved a doctor who returned from Congo.