Mass gatherings banned in DRC as Ebola outbreak intensifies ahead of opposition protest

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has prohibited large gatherings in Kinshasa and three additional provinces to curb the spread of the Ebola epidemic. The ban, detailed in a letter from Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani, comes as the opposition plans a major demonstration in the capital on Wednesday, July 8.

Declared on May 15, the 17th Ebola outbreak in DRC has officially claimed 360 lives out of 1,274 recorded cases. Although the northeastern provinces remain the hardest hit, no transmission has been reported in Kinshasa, a megacity of over 17 million residents.

In his letter dated Saturday, June 27, the minister instructed local authorities to ban “mass gatherings” to “prevent any contamination from the Ebola virus outbreak.” The document does not specify whether the opposition rally is directly targeted.

A decision amid intense political tensions

This ban arrives as the political climate has grown tense over a bill governing a referendum on constitutional reform. The opposition argues that the change could pave the way for a third term for President Félix Tshisekedi, who has been in power since 2019, while the current constitution limits the head of state to two terms.

Adopted in mid-June by a parliament dominated by the presidential majority, the text now awaits possible promulgation by the head of state.

On June 12, a previous opposition gathering decrying a “constitutional coup” was violently broken up in Kinshasa. Clashes between protesters, pro-government activists, and security forces left several injured. The United Nations also reported the death of “at least one protester.”

Despite the announced restrictions, the opposition continues to call for a protest on July 8 to demand Félix Tshisekedi’s resignation. On Monday, Jacquemain Shabani labeled the call an “act of high treason.”