M23 rebels halt shared taxis and lake boats amid Ebola fears

The AFC/M23 rebel alliance governing parts of North and South Kivu announced a month-long halt to shared taxis on the Goma-Kirumba corridor and to passenger pirogue boats on selected Lake Edward routes, citing Ebola concerns after two Lubero travelers tested positive in rebel-held territory. Taxi-buses may still operate on the road provided they meet health and safety standards, and trucks carrying goods will continue to run.

This action follows the rebels' declaration that their areas are Ebola-free in late June, underscoring the challenge of managing the continent’s fastest-spreading outbreak amid ongoing conflict. The M23, which seized Goma and Bukavu during its early 2025 offensive, has been conducting a health response largely independent of Kinshasa authorities. The United Nations and Western governments have accused Rwanda of backing the rebels, a claim the Rwandan government rejects. Confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo have now surpassed 5,000, according to recent government data.