Movement across the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda has been suspended since Sunday morning, particularly around the border towns of Goma and Gisenyi, according to eyewitness accounts from the area.
So far, neither the Rwandan authorities nor the March 23 Movement (M23), which has reportedly controlled Goma since last year, has issued any official statement regarding the closure.
An IT services worker in Goma told MediaCongo that movement across the border had been completely halted.
“Rwanda has no longer been allowing entry into its territory since this morning. Movement in both directions is blocked,” the source said.
The sudden shutdown comes at a time of heightened regional health concerns following the World Health Organization’s classification of an Ebola outbreak in Bundibugyo, spanning parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, as a global public health emergency. The World Health Organization has warned of increased cross-border transmission risks.
Although no official reason has been confirmed for the closure, several observers suggest it may be a precautionary measure aimed at limiting the spread of the Ebola virus, especially given the high volume of daily movement between Goma and Gisenyi, which are key trade and transit points in the Great Lakes region.
Authorities are yet to clarify whether the closure is temporary or part of a broader regional containment strategy.
