Congo's largest rebel group to restrict movement in the east over Ebola

The rebel group Alliance of the River Congo/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced it will impose restrictions on passenger movement in and out of areas under its control to contain the spread of Ebola.

This decision comes after two travelers from Lubero, a government-controlled area in North Kivu province, tested positive for Ebola in an M23-controlled village. The insurgency stated in a communique released late Wednesday that it is suspending shared taxi services for one month on the road connecting Goma with Kirumba. Passenger transport via canoes on specific routes of Lake Edward will also be limited.

While taxis and buses will still be permitted to operate on the Goma-Kirumba route, they will be subject to health and security checks. Similarly, trucks transporting goods will also face controls. These measures are being implemented amid the fastest-growing Ebola epidemic since its declaration on May 15, and amidst ongoing armed conflict between the Congolese government and various armed groups.

The AFC/M23 rebels, reportedly supported by neighboring Rwanda, control significant portions of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. They advanced in early 2025, capturing Goma and Bukavu, the two largest cities in eastern DRC. Corneille Nangaa, the political coordinator for AFC/M23, criticized Kinshasa's response to the crisis, stating it "reveals a deeper crisis of governance, responsibility, and legitimacy."

The group has leveraged the epidemic to showcase its administrative capabilities in the eastern region. They have organized an independent health response, separate from the government, and declared territories under their control "Ebola-free" in late June. The DRC government has reported 2,476 deaths and 5,208 confirmed cases of Ebola, making it the second-deadliest outbreak in history. Eastern DRC, rich in minerals vital for the tech industry, has been plagued by conflict involving rebel groups and the army since 1998, despite the presence of a UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO).