Muyaya Says Rwanda’s Withdrawal Is Key to Fighting Ebola in East DRC

As eastern Democratic Republic of Congo battles a new Ebola outbreak amid the ongoing conflict with the AFC/M23 rebellion, Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya has defended Kinshasa’s response capacity while sharply criticizing Rwanda’s role in the crisis.

Speaking to TV5Monde, Muyaya insisted that the DRC has both the expertise and experience to manage the outbreak, while warning that the continued presence of Rwandan forces and M23 control in parts of eastern Congo is undermining regional health efforts.

“This is the seventeenth Ebola epidemic we are facing,” Muyaya explained. “We have the experience and the expertise needed. Ebola is not COVID. It is transmitted through contact, not through the air.”

The Congolese minister pushed back against growing international panic surrounding the outbreak, emphasizing that the epidemic remains localized to only three of the country’s 26 provinces. According to him, the government has already mobilized emergency measures, including treatment centers and a first response package of $20 million.

“We have put in place a response mechanism that works,” he said, noting that the Ministry of Health is coordinating with Africa CDC, Uganda, and South Sudan on a regional contingency plan.

However, Muyaya argued that the war in eastern Congo has created an entirely new challenge for public health authorities.

Rwanda Accused of Worsening the Crisis

Muyaya directly criticized Rwanda for closing its border with the DRC over the Ebola outbreak, saying the move violated international health regulations and unnecessarily isolated affected populations.

“Rwanda could have installed preventive health measures instead of closing the borders,” he stated. “If they truly cared about Congolese lives, they would have facilitated mobility with proper controls.”

He argued that shutting borders complicates efforts to deploy medical response teams into conflict-affected areas, especially around Goma and North Kivu, where insecurity remains high due to the presence of M23 rebels.

For the Congolese government, Muyaya said, the solution is not simply a temporary ceasefire.

“A truce will not be enough,” he declared. “What we need is the withdrawal of Rwanda.”

According to Muyaya, the health emergency demonstrates why international mediators, especially the United States, should push harder for the complete removal of Rwandan troops from Congolese territory.

He accused Kigali and M23 of continuing coordinated operations despite commitments made under the Washington peace process.

“What we are seeing are not real withdrawals,” he said. “These are simply redeployments.”

“Father and Son”: Kinshasa Maintains Pressure on Rwanda

During an interview Muyaya described Rwanda and M23 as operating together.

“They are in a criminal father-and-son relationship,” he said. “The father is Rwanda, the sons are the M23.”

The comments reflect the UN Experts report that says M23 rebels are not as an independent rebellion, but as a proxy force directed and supported by Kigali, accusations Rwanda continues to deny despite multiple UN reports documenting military and logistical support to the group.

Muyaya also questioned the ability of M23 authorities in occupied zones to handle a health emergency of this scale.

“They have no capacity to respond to this epidemic,” he warned.

DRC Seeks International Support, Not Isolation

Despite concerns about Ebola and insecurity, Muyaya insisted the DRC remains transparent in its communication with international partners.

“Nobody in global health circles questions the DRC’s expertise in managing Ebola,” he said.

He acknowledged that more suspected cases and contacts are likely to emerge in the coming days as surveillance expands, but framed that as proof that health systems are functioning properly.

The minister also reassured Congolese football supporters ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup in the United States, saying the government is already in discussions with U.S. authorities to facilitate travel for fans and the national team.

“Our players will be able to travel calmly to the United States,” he said.

Constitution Debate Not Government Priority

Asked about political tensions surrounding constitutional reform debates launched by members of the ruling coalition, Muyaya insisted that the government’s immediate priorities remain security in the east and containing Ebola.

“The urgency for us is to resolve the situation in the East and manage the Ebola epidemic,” he said.

Still, he defended the right for political debates to continue, arguing that discussions around constitutional reform should focus on making the state more effective rather than becoming personalized political battles.

For Kinshasa, however, the message throughout the interview remained consistent: the Ebola crisis cannot be separated from the war.

And according to Patrick Muyaya, lasting stability will require far more than temporary military pauses.

“It is the withdrawal of Rwanda that will allow an effective response,” he insisted.