DRC officials defend ebola response amidst eastern provinces outbreak

During a critical mission to Bunia, located in Ituri province, Patrick Muyaya, the Minister of Communication and Media and government spokesperson, urged for an “objective assessment” of the efforts undertaken by Congolese authorities. These efforts are part of the ongoing battle against the Ebola virus disease outbreak affecting the eastern provinces of Ituri, Nord-Kivu, and Sud-Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Speaking at a joint press briefing on Thursday, June 18, 2026, alongside Roger Samuel Kamba, the Minister of Public Health, Hygiene, and Social Welfare, Patrick Muyaya addressed criticisms from certain non-governmental organizations involved in the health response. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transparency and openness to constructive feedback, yet emphasized the importance of acknowledging the substantial work being done on the ground. While conceding that challenges persist, Muyaya firmly rejected any alarmist rhetoric.

“I prefer not to name the criticizing NGOs. We are, without a doubt, transparent in our operations. You observed the various speakers earlier; no one was instructed on what to say. We do not claim perfection, that is not our assertion. What we do assert is that we are fulfilling our responsibilities,” the government spokesperson stated.

Muyaya highlighted that the Congolese state proactively assumed its duties by allocating its own financial resources before seeking external partner support. He also clarified the nature of international funding, particularly funds announced by certain foreign partners.

“The government did not wait for partners. We have already committed 50 million USD of government funds because we believe in leading by example. All the international funding you hear about, from the American government and other partners, is not directly given to our government. These funds are channeled to NGOs,” he explained during his address.

The Minister called upon all stakeholders engaged in the Ebola response to prioritize collective responsibility, suggesting that some criticisms might not accurately reflect the realities on the ground.

“We are all united by the common goal of eradicating this epidemic. However, it is a different matter for those who believe they can leverage this epidemic to solicit additional resources. There are other established channels for advocacy,” he noted in his intervention.

He urged the organizations involved to exercise greater restraint in their public statements: “To diminish the sacrifices of these individuals on the front lines is to undermine their dedication. I would appeal to these NGOs for more discretion, as if we were to scrutinize their field operations, there would be much to comment on.”

For his part, Roger Samuel Kamba, the Minister of Public Health, Hygiene, and Social Welfare, expressed his preference for focusing on measurable outcomes rather than engaging in controversies.

“I choose to remain focused on the facts,” he declared, proceeding to list the indicators he considers crucial for evaluating the response. “I prefer to look at the number of tests conducted in a month, count the treatment centers established in a month, observe the number of community relays deployed in a month, tally the samples analyzed daily, and assess the number of recovered individuals,” he added.

According to Minister Kamba, the effectiveness of the response should be judged by concrete actions implemented on the ground. “That is what truly interests me. Rumors and attempts by individuals seeking to claim undue credit do not,” he continued. Roger Samuel Kamba believes that a definitive assessment can only be made once the health crisis concludes: “When this epidemic is over, everyone can reflect on the work accomplished and draw their own conclusions.”

On May 17, 2026, merely two days after the official declaration of the epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus and spreading from the DRC to Uganda, as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

The WHO indicated that the epidemic has seen significant geographical expansion, and its true scale might be underestimated. This challenging situation is exacerbated by high population mobility, fragile healthcare systems, inadequate health infrastructure, and difficulties in accessing conflict-affected areas.

Adding to these complexities is the current absence of an approved vaccine and specific treatment for the Bundibugyo virus. Despite this alarming context, Congolese authorities maintain an optimistic outlook, drawing confidence from the experience gained in successfully containing sixteen previous Ebola epidemics within the country.