Rwanda announces the indefinite closure of its border with the DRC through the Rubavu crossing due to the Ebola outbreak

Local Rwandan authorities have closed the Rubavu border crossing with the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to the Ebola outbreak declared in the neighboring country that has already left 80 possible dead and more than 200 suspected affected.

The indefinite closure of the Rubavu crossing, one of the busiest between both countries, has been ordered by the mayor of the municipality, Mulindwa Prosper, who has clarified that transit is only reserved for Rwandans crossing from the DRC, and after a medical examination.

According to statements reported by the newspaper ‘Kigali Today’, the mayor also explained that he has given orders to strengthen surveillance on illegal cross-border routes, the so-called “panya”, to prevent any spread through these prohibited crossings.

This Sunday is the first measure of this type adopted by the Rwandan authorities to stop the expansion of an outbreak that has become international with the declaration of a case in Uganda and that has also reached in recent hours the conflict zone in the northeastern neighbor of the DRC, under partial control of the militias of the March 23 Movement (M23).

The militias, linked to the Rwandan Government (although Kigali rejects this point), usually move between the border of both countries to relocate troops or supply themselves with ammunition. The capitals of the northeastern region of Kivu have been under their control for months and are the scene of a critical humanitarian situation where NGO assistance has been greatly hindered since then.