Border Closure to Curb Ebola Cuts ‘Lifeline’ Between Goma and Rwanda
Theo Prosper Heri Ngorora (Al Jazeera)
The closure of the Petite Barrière border crossing on May 16 after an Ebola case in Goma, DRC, has severed a key trade route, leaving thousands of small-scale traders without livelihoods despite health authorities citing disease control. Many residents, like tomato seller Murielle Ihora, have been refused entry into Rwanda, forcing them to find alternative sources. Health experts question the effectiveness of border closures, favoring surveillance, while traders face economic hardship.
Goma, DRC – Between the border posts linking Goma (DRC) with the Rwandan town of Gisenyi, the Petite Barrière crossing once bustled daily with merchants and travelers passing through a wooden hut. Now it stands empty.
A few dozen meters away, a guard post painted in the colors of the DRC flag overlooks the frontier that once sustained thousands. Across the border, a blue guard post marks the entrance to Gisenyi.
Since authorities reported an Ebola case in Goma on May 16, the crossing has been shut, severing a vital trade artery for thousands whose livelihoods depend on moving between the two cities.
Many residents say they have been refused entry into Rwanda since May 17. Among them is Murielle Ihora, a mother of three who makes a living selling tomatoes. “On May 17, I took two baskets to cross into Rwanda to buy tomatoes to sell in Goma. When I got there, I was told crossings had been suspended by Rwandan authorities,” she recalled.
Unable to continue her daily routine, Ihora now sources produce from nearby villages like Minova, 30 km southwest of Goma. Her experience is increasingly common in a city where cross-border trade supports countless households. According to a 2015 World Bank estimate, between 20,000 and 30,000 people crossed Petite Barrière daily, most of them small traders.
Public Health vs. Livelihoods
As Ebola continues to affect parts of the DRC, neighboring countries like Rwanda and Uganda have imposed measures to keep the virus out. Rwanda has banned entry for foreign travelers who have been in the DRC within the past 30 days. However, some health experts question the efficacy of border closures.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reiterated it does not recommend border closures during Ebola outbreaks, arguing they are ineffective and can cause significant harm. Dr. Elie Bajo, a health policy analyst, says epidemiological surveillance is the most effective tool: “In the event of an outbreak, surveillance is carried out in various ways, mainly at points of entry and checkpoints, similar to airports and roadblocks.” He agrees with the WHO that screening travelers is more effective than completely shutting borders.
For Goma’s traders, the debate is not just about public health—it is about survival.
“We Don’t Have Enough to Live On”
Furaha Kiza, 45, supports six children by selling lemons. The closure has slashed her income. “Since the border closed, we have nothing to do. When it was open, we went over to get goods and brought them back to sell,” Kiza said. At Birere market, traders report plummeting sales.
Fatuma Mapendo, 32, buys chili peppers in Rwanda to resell in Goma. “I buy chilies wholesale in Rwanda. These past few days, sometimes I find something to sell, sometimes nothing. I’d rather follow safety measures than see the border closed.”
Gustave Bolingo, an economic analyst in Goma, says the restrictions have dealt a heavy blow to already vulnerable communities: “The outbreak came suddenly and weakened the livelihoods of many families trading between the two towns. The city of Goma was already economically fragile, with no bank or airport; the border closure has serious consequences.”
Calls to reopen the border are growing, including from authorities in areas controlled by the M23 group. The M23 armed group, which controls large parts of eastern DRC, said no Ebola cases have been confirmed in its areas. “In total, we had only four cases: one death, three recoveries. No active cases today,” wrote Dr. Freddy Kaniki, head of the group’s Ebola task force, on his X account.
For traders waiting at the closed border, the debate is not about epidemiological data—it is about when they can earn a living again. Traders’ associations say they are continuing negotiations with Rwandan authorities and the AFC-M23 in Goma to ease restrictions. Rock Ngelema Tshomba, head of Tuungane Organization for People with Physical Disabilities, representing cross-border traders living with disabilities, said: “The most important thing is that we start crossing again. We don’t have enough to live on. We hope an agreement will be reached, and we are ready to follow Ebola protective measures.”
