KINSHASA, June 29, 2026 — The Democratic Republic of Congo has banned all public gatherings in four provinces, including the capital city of Kinshasa, as health authorities attempt to contain a deadly outbreak of Ebola, the Interior Ministry announced.
The ministerial directive, signed by Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani, prohibits political meetings, public marches, demonstrations, and other large crowd gatherings in Kinshasa, Tshopo, Haut-Uélé, and Bas-Uélé provinces.
While none of the four restricted provinces have recorded active local transmissions, the ministry cited their proximity to the epicenter and high regional mobility as significant transmission risks. Under the decree, provincial governors must enforce strict symptom monitoring and submit daily surveillance briefs to the central government.
The current outbreak, which was officially declared on May 15, 2026, is driven by the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus—a strain for which there is currently no licensed vaccine or standard treatment. According to Health Ministry data released on Monday, the virus has infected 1,274 people and caused 360 deaths, primarily across three eastern provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.
Health officials noted that a case was recently detected in Haut-Uélé involving a patient who traveled from Ituri, demonstrating that the virus is moving along major internal trade routes. Additionally, although Kinshasa remains free of an active cluster, a French doctor who treated Ebola patients spent a day in the capital before flying back to France, where they subsequently tested positive.
The sweeping ban on assemblies comes amid escalating political friction. Opposition groups have dismissed the restrictions as “politically motivated,” noting that the ban was issued just ahead of a major nationwide demonstration scheduled for July 8.
