The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has insisted it is fully capable of managing the ongoing Ebola outbreak, as controversy continues to grow over a reported United States plan to establish an Ebola quarantine and monitoring facility in Kenya.
Speaking during an interview on BBC's Focus on Africa, DRC Government Spokesperson and Information Minister Patrick Muyaya said the country has been working closely with U.S. authorities since the outbreak began and possesses extensive experience in containing the deadly virus.
“We have been talking with the U.S. government since the beginning of the outbreak, and some of the specialists here are already working with the U.S. government,” Muyaya said.
He noted that the DRC has successfully handled multiple Ebola outbreaks in the past, citing a recent outbreak in the Kasai region that was contained within six weeks.
“I need to remind the world that DRC has experience and expertise on this epidemic. The last time we had an outbreak in Kasai, we finished it in six weeks,” he added.
Muyaya's remarks come amid mounting criticism in Kenya over reports that the United States intends to establish an Ebola exposure, isolation, and treatment facility for American citizens returning from the DRC.
On Friday, the High Court in Nairobi temporarily halted the proposed arrangement after issuing conservatory orders barring the establishment of any Ebola-related facility linked to the plan. The orders followed an urgent petition filed by the Katiba Institute, which raised concerns about constitutional compliance, public health risks, and national security implications.
The U.S. government has acknowledged the court proceedings and said it is engaging Kenyan authorities to address concerns surrounding the proposal.
At the same time, reports indicate that the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is preparing to deploy a specialised Ebola response team to Kenya to assist in monitoring and caring for American citizens arriving from the DRC.
The proposal has triggered a political storm, with leaders from Laikipia County publicly rejecting the plan and questioning why their region was selected without consultation. They argued that resources should instead be directed toward containing the outbreak at its source in the DRC.