Rwanda, DRC border close over fears of Ebola outbreak
Authorities in Rwanda on Sunday temporarily closed border crossings linking the city of Gisenyi in Rubavu District with Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, citing concerns over the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the neighboring country.
The closure, which took effect on the morning of May 17, 2026, affects the Petite Barrière, Grande Barrière and Kabuhanga border posts, key crossing points used daily by traders and travelers between the two countries.
Rubavu District Mayor Prosper Mulindwa confirmed the measure, saying it was aimed at preventing the spread of the deadly virus into Rwanda.
“The borders connecting Goma and Gisenyi have been temporarily closed as part of measures to monitor and contain the Ebola outbreak. We will continue engaging with residents to explain why these measures were taken,” he said.
Mulindwa urged residents to remain patient, stressing that the move was intended to protect public health.
Despite the restrictions, health officials are continuing to screen Rwandan nationals returning from DR Congo, while Congolese citizens heading back home are still being allowed to cross.
Border crossings linking Bukavu and Rusizi in southwestern Rwanda remain open for now.
The closure has disrupted cross-border trade, a major source of income for many residents living along the frontier.
Uwizeyimana Afissa, a small-scale trader, said she only learned about the closure after arriving at the border to transport goods.
“We came early for work to deliver products, but when we arrived, we found the border closed because of the Ebola outbreak in the neighboring country,” she said.
She appealed to authorities to establish alternative arrangements that would allow limited trade activities to continue while maintaining strict health measures.
Another trader, Mukeshimana Emeritha, who has spent two decades in cross-border commerce, said traders were prepared to comply with government directives aimed at protecting lives, but called for consideration regarding perishable goods that could spoil during prolonged closures.
The latest measures come after health authorities confirmed new Ebola cases in Ituri Province in eastern DR Congo late this week.
On Saturday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported that Ebola infections linked to the outbreak had risen to 336 cases, with 87 deaths recorded.
Uganda also confirmed its first Ebola case on Saturday. The patient later died in a hospital in Kampala, raising the death toll linked to the outbreak to 88. Authorities in Uganda have since confirmed a second case.
Health officials said all infected individuals had recently traveled to DR Congo.
The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, first identified in Uganda between 2007 and 2008, when it infected 149 people and killed 37. Another outbreak involving the same strain was recorded in DR Congo’s Isiro region in 2012, infecting 57 people and killing 29.
The World Health Organization has warned that the resurgence of Ebola in DR Congo and Uganda poses a serious global health concern.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for increased international support and resources to combat the outbreak, while cautioning countries against completely shutting borders, arguing that coordinated health surveillance and response measures remain the most effective tools to contain the virus.
