Dr Congo and Rwanda partially reopen border after ebola-free period

The Corniche border crossing, connecting the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Gisenyi in Rwanda, has begun a gradual reopening after more than a week without any new active Ebola cases in the vicinity, I confirmed with local officials.

Initially, the measure applies to specific categories of travellers, including those heading to Gisenyi for banking transactions, humanitarian workers travelling to Goma or continuing to Kigali for international flights, and individuals with urgent reasons subject to immigration approval.

The partial resumption of cross-border movement has been welcomed by residents on both sides, as trade had sharply declined due to health restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the disease. The flow of goods and people, vital to the local economy, had been severely disrupted between Goma and Gisenyi.

Health authorities continue epidemiological surveillance, contact tracing, and community outreach efforts to prevent any resurgence of the virus, which is known for its high mortality rate in Central Africa.

The temporary closure of border posts between the DRC and Rwanda took effect on the morning of Sunday 17 May. For its part, the Rwandan government, through its Ministry of Health, stated it is closely monitoring the outbreak reported in eastern DRC and confirmed that no Ebola cases have been recorded on Rwandan soil to date.