The Corniche border crossing, which connects Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo to Gisenyi in Rwanda, has begun a gradual reopening after more than a week without any new active Ebola virus disease cases reported in the area.
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 people with urgent reasons, subject to approval by immigration services.
The partial resumption of cross-border movement has been welcomed by communities on both sides, as trade and daily commutes between Goma and Gisenyi had slowed significantly due to health restrictions imposed to contain the disease. Transborder traffic, vital for the local economy, had been heavily disrupted, affecting commercial activities and daily travel.
Health authorities continue epidemiological surveillance, contact tracing, and community awareness campaigns to prevent any resurgence of the disease, known for its high mortality rate in Central Africa.
The temporary closure of border posts between the DRC and Rwanda had been in effect since the morning of Sunday, 17 May. The Rwandan government, through its Ministry of Health, is closely monitoring the outbreak reported in eastern DRC and confirms that no Ebola cases have been detected on its soil so far.
