DRC ebola response: government officials call for objective assessment of efforts

During a critical mission to Bunia, within Ituri province, Patrick Muyaya, the Minister of Communication and Media and government spokesperson, urged for an unbiased assessment of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) ongoing efforts to combat the Ebola virus disease. This epidemic currently affects the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.

Speaking at a joint press briefing on Thursday, June 18, 2026, alongside Roger Samuel Kamba, the Minister of Public Health, Hygiene, and Social Welfare, Muyaya addressed criticisms from various non-governmental organizations involved in the health response. He affirmed the government’s commitment to transparency and openness to feedback, while emphasizing the need to acknowledge the significant work being done on the ground. Despite recognizing persistent challenges, he cautioned against adopting an overly alarmist tone.

“I prefer not to name the criticizing NGOs. Clearly, we are open, engaged in a transparent exercise. You’ve seen the various speakers today; no one received instructions on what to say. We do not claim perfection, that is not our assertion. What we state is that we are fulfilling our responsibilities,” the government spokesperson declared.

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

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

The Minister called upon all stakeholders involved in the response to prioritize collective responsibility, suggesting that some criticisms do not accurately reflect the realities observed in the field.

“We are all united by a common goal: to end this epidemic. However, it is another matter for those who believe they can solicit more resources through this epidemic. There are other mechanisms for advocacy,” he noted.

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

For his part, Minister of Public Health, Hygiene, and Social Welfare, Roger Samuel Kamba, stated his preference for focusing on tangible results rather than engaging in controversies.

“I prefer to remain focused on the facts,” he asserted, before listing 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, count the samples analyzed daily, and track the number of recovered individuals,” he added.

According to Minister Kamba, the effectiveness of the response should be judged by concrete actions on the ground. “That is what interests me. Rumors and attempts by individuals seeking to take credit do not interest me,” 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 look at themselves, review the work accomplished, and draw their own conclusions.”

On May 17, 2026, just 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 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 situation is further complicated by high population mobility, fragile health systems, inadequate health infrastructure, and challenges in accessing areas affected by conflict.

Adding to these difficulties is the current absence of an approved vaccine and specific treatment for the Bundibugyo virus. Despite this concerning backdrop, Congolese authorities maintain a hopeful outlook, drawing on the experience gained from successfully managing sixteen previous Ebola outbreaks in the nation.