Authorities in DR Congo have banned large gatherings in the capital, citing prevention of Ebola virus spread. However, opposition groups criticize the government, saying the ban is meant to block protests planned for next week.
On Monday, 29 June 2026, the Interior Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) announced a ban on large gatherings in the capital, Kinshasa, and three other areas to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus.
Although the outbreak is currently limited to three eastern provinces about 1,800 kilometers from Kinshasa, authorities fear the virus could spread to the capital, which has a dense population of 18 million people.
The other three provinces under the ban are Tshopo, Haut-Uele, and Bas-Uele, all bordering areas with confirmed Ebola cases.
However, key opposition leaders in DR Congo have condemned the order, claiming it is actually intended to block a protest planned for 8 July, since no confirmed Ebola cases have been reported in Kinshasa so far.
"This order lacks legitimacy, and we cannot accept this decision," said France Epengue, spokesperson for the opposition alliance Lamuka, speaking to BBC News.
Rodrigue Ramazani, secretary of the opposition party Envol, urged protesters to ignore the ban and join the march, stating that the government’s order “smells more like a political maneuver than a public health measure.”
The planned protest is organized by the C64 alliance, which opposes a new bill they fear could allow President Félix Tshisekedi to extend his term beyond the two-term limit.
Although no Ebola cases have been reported in Kinshasa, one doctor infected with the virus in France traveled through the capital to return home after working at an Ebola treatment center in the outbreak’s epicenter.
The Ministry of Health stated that the Ebola outbreak remains confined to three provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, where bans on mass gatherings have already been in place for several weeks.
Currently, DR Congo authorities report 1,274 confirmed Ebola cases, with the death toll rising to 360.
/foreign news updates:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:bbc