The authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have banned mass gatherings in Kinshasa and three other provinces to prevent the spread of the Ebola epidemic. This measure comes just days before a planned opposition demonstration against President Félix Tshisekedi on Wednesday, July 8.

Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani issued a letter on June 27 instructing local officials to prohibit large assemblies, stating the move aims to avoid any contamination from the Ebola virus. The letter, however, does not explicitly mention whether the opposition rally is targeted.

The 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC, declared on May 15, has officially resulted in 360 deaths out of 1,274 recorded cases. While the northeastern provinces remain the most affected, no transmission has been reported in Kinshasa, a megacity of over 17 million people.

A decision amid heightened political tensions

The ban coincides with a sharp rise in political tensions over a bill that would enable a referendum on constitutional revision. The opposition fears this reform could allow President Tshisekedi, in power since 2019, to seek a third term, despite the current two-term limit. The bill passed through a parliament dominated by the presidential majority in mid-June and now awaits possible promulgation by the president.

On June 12, a previous opposition rally denouncing what they called a “constitutional coup” was violently dispersed in Kinshasa. Clashes between protesters, pro-government activists, and security forces left several injured. The United Nations reported the death of at least one demonstrator.

Despite the announced restrictions, the opposition remains firm in its call to protest on July 8, demanding Tshisekedi’s resignation. On Monday, Minister Shabani labeled the call an “act of high treason.”