The suspension of flights to the DRC and the Ugandan border has excluded Ebola-hit Bunia | Story

Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo – Congolese authorities have suspended all flights to and from Bunia in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to combat the Ebola outbreak.

The decision was taken by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, which has banned all flights in and out of Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, where the virus continues to spread.

“This precautionary measure aims to prevent any spread of the epidemic and ensure the health of passengers, crew and airport staff,” said Al Jazeera, urging all airport services “to strictly follow the health and safety guidelines issued by the relevant authorities”.

Although it is illegal, Kinshasa has allowed some. Humanitarian, medical and emergency flights may be permitted, but with special permission from the aviation and health authorities.

The mission aims to ensure the continuity of essential services, particularly the transport of medical personnel, supplies and critical support to the response.

“Bunia Airport is one of the borders of the DRC. Several planes take off and land there. Closing the airport will be very disruptive. As you know, the road is impassable and many people like to fly,” said Pascal Tudja, an economist in Bunia.

Growing isolation

Uganda, which is one of the main border crossings in Bunia for commercial and passenger traffic, has also imposed restrictions on people entering or leaving the DRC as part of a plan to prevent the spread of Ebola.

This has affected transport and movement between eastern DRC and neighboring Uganda, including areas around Ituri region, causing transport and trade difficulties.

Most of the goods entering Bunia pass through Uganda, making the neighboring country an important route for the city.

The combined restrictions are already being felt in the city’s business community.

“The closure of our border with Uganda has already disrupted our business, I send my goods from Kampala, I have orders from my customers, but I cannot fulfill them because of the border closure,” said Sarah Bitangalo, a clothes seller in Bunia.

Another resident, Bernard Bahati, a teacher and father of three, said the closure of the airspace is necessary to contain the virus, but he questioned how long the measure would last and asked for measures to help residents.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, he warned: “This plane has helped a lot to change the economy of Bunia.” Hundreds of tons of food and non-food items are being distributed here in Ituri through the airport.

Businesses are struggling

Mitterrand Mweze is a businessman in Bunia, the capital of Ituri district.

For nearly 20 years, he has been investing in hotels, bars and playgrounds in the area. For him, the closure of Bunia Airport is equivalent to a region cut off or isolated, which threatens the success of his business.

“There are travelers who come to invest, because of the economy. Without an airport, it is difficult to do business as usual,” he said.

“With the decision to close the airport, we will be forced to rely on those who are already in Bunia, but if passengers come, it will increase our business,” he said.

According to UN-Habitat, 50 percent of Bunia’s economy falls into the tertiary sector, including services, transportation, retail, and public administration.

Mitterrand Mweze said the government should consider ways to reduce taxes so that businesses can reduce their problems.

“We are asking the government to please remember us when it comes to taxes. They can make things easier for us because we can no longer work like before, otherwise, we may run out of money during this difficult time,” he said.

The price to pay

The health center in Bunia is one of the 11 health centers in Congo that have been affected by the Ebola epidemic that has been announced in mid-May 2026 by the health authorities.

According to the Congolese Ministry of Health, the epidemic has already killed more than 220 people as of May 26, 2026. More than 930 cases have been reported in the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says nearly $500m has been pledged and committed by African and other governments to support the Ebola response in the DRC and Uganda, as well as in other high-risk countries.

The Bundibugyo strain is one of the six strains of the Ebola virus and can be very deadly, with a mortality rate of up to 50 percent, according to experts.

UN-Habitat says most of the economic activity in Bunia is driven by activities such as trade, transport and commerce.

“We will face a huge shortage of goods, and when goods are scarce, prices will go up,” warned Tudja.