The border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, in the Goma Gisenyi area, has been closed since Sunday morning, according to multiple eyewitness accounts from the region.
As of now, neither the Rwandan government nor M23 rebels who have controlled Goma since last year have issued an official statement explaining the closure.
An IT services worker in Goma confirmed the situation in an interview with MediaCongo, saying movement across the border had been halted in both directions. “Rwanda has no longer been allowing entry into its territory since this morning. Movement in both directions is blocked,” he said.
The closure comes at a time of heightened health concerns after the World Health Organization classified the Ebola outbreak linked to the Bundibugyo strain in the DRC and Uganda as a public health emergency of international concern.
While no official reason has been provided, several observers suggest the shutdown may be a precautionary step to help prevent the spread of the virus. The Goma Gisenyi crossing is one of the busiest and most economically significant border points in the Great Lakes region, with high daily movement of people and goods.
