This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
On August 5, 2019, Rwanda's Health Minister Diane Gashumba announced that the country would stop students from crossing the border daily to attend schools in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, due to Ebola fears.
According to Gashumba, students would be enrolled in schools in Rwanda instead, citing the Ebola outbreak in Goma that has killed three people since July.
As part of the measures to limit cross-border activities, a delegation led by Gashumba visited Gisenyi, a Rwandan city bordering Goma, on Monday, August 5, 2019, and cautioned residents to limit their activities.
However, the decision has sparked concerns among residents who rely on Goma as a commercial hub. During a meeting with Gisenyi residents, one person asked Rwanda's interior minister, Shyaka Anastase, how they were expected to survive if they were limited from going to Goma.
Shyaka Anastase suggested that they find representatives in Goma to conduct their business, stating, "Even though there is money in Goma, life is more important than money."
