The Democratic Republic of Congo bans mass gatherings in Kinshasa and three other areas to reduce the spread of Ebola, the country’s interior minister says. The restrictions are aimed at limiting transmission as the current Ebola outbreak is detected in three provinces in the east. The BBC reports the measure covers the capital and additional locations, though the full list and timing are described by officials.
The announcement also triggers political criticism. The Jerusalem Post says the ban follows plans for a protest in Kinshasa on 8 July against constitutional reform. It reports that opposition figures argue the public-health action is politically motivated and intended to prevent the demonstration.
The BBC similarly notes that opposition politicians accuse the government of using the Ebola outbreak to stop the planned protest. The sources agree the government frames the decision as a health measure to contain Ebola, while critics see it as related to domestic political events rather than solely epidemiological concerns.
