India, African Union Delay Summit Over Ebola Concerns

By Al Mayadeen English

21 May 2026 17:08

India and the AU postponed the Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi due to concerns surrounding the evolving Ebola situation in parts of Africa.

India and the African Union have postponed the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit, which had been scheduled to take place in New Delhi later this month, citing concerns linked to the evolving Ebola situation in parts of Africa, India Today reported on Thursday.

The summit, known as IAFS IV, was originally expected to run from May 28 to 31 and bring together African leaders and senior officials for discussions on trade, development, health cooperation, and political coordination.

In a joint statement, the two sides said the Government of India and the African Union had remained in close contact while preparing for the gathering and had reviewed “the evolving health situation in parts of Africa.”

The statement stressed the importance of continued collaboration on public health preparedness and response efforts across the continent, including support for the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and national health bodies.

India lends a helping hand

India also expressed support for African-led efforts to address the outbreak situation, saying it remained ready to assist initiatives coordinated through Africa CDC “in line with the shared commitment to an Africa-led response.”

According to the statement, consultations took place between Indian authorities, the chairperson of the African Union, and the African Union Commission to assess whether the summit and related events could proceed while ensuring broad participation from African leaders and stakeholders.

“Following the consultations, both sides agreed that it would be advisable to convene the Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit at a later date,” the statement said.

New dates for the summit and accompanying meetings will be announced after further consultations, the two sides added.

India and the African Union also reaffirmed what they described as their longstanding partnership rooted in solidarity, mutual respect, South-South cooperation, and a shared commitment to peace, development, and prosperity.

Ebola summit disruption

The postponement comes as health authorities monitor a growing Ebola outbreak centered in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in Ituri Province near the borders with Uganda and South Sudan. The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which no approved vaccine currently exists.

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency earlier this month after cases spread across multiple areas in Congo and imported infections were reported in Uganda. Aid organizations and local responders have also warned of shortages in medical supplies and protective equipment amid ongoing instability in eastern Congo.

Several governments have since tightened health monitoring measures for travelers arriving from affected regions, raising concerns over large-scale international gatherings involving multiple African delegations.

Sudan's Genocide Leaves Thousands Buried in Unmarked Graves: AP

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Associated Press

22 May 2026 19:23

Three years of war in Sudan have left more than 8,000 people missing, with tens of thousands buried in unmarked graves. Families search endlessly for answers, enduring years of agonizing uncertainty.

More than 8,000 people have disappeared during three years of genocide in Sudan, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, as families endure the agony of not knowing whether their loved ones are alive or dead, with many believed to lie in unmarked graves across the capital, Khartoum.

Fahmy al‑Fateh, a 38‑year‑old farmer and merchant, joined the Sudanese army when the war began. One morning last January, he left his home before sunrise to help retake the capital from the UAE-backed Rapid Support Forces. He called his wife, Azaher Abdallah, to say he was finished for the day and would stop at the market on his way back. He never arrived.

Abdallah has since searched hospitals, morgues and army units, but no trace of her husband has been found. His three‑year‑old son now shouts at every passing motorcycle, believing his father might be riding it.

"He was the most precious thing in my life," Abdallah told the Associated Press, sobbing into her hands. "I would feel more at peace if I knew something. It's better than not knowing what happened to him, whether he's alive or dead."

Tens of thousands buried in makeshift graves

In Khartoum state, authorities have moved nearly 30,000 bodies that had been hastily buried near houses, in sports fields and beside roads while fighting raged. About 10 percent of those remains are unidentified.

Soccer fields and cemeteries are overflowing with the dead, the Associated Press reported after a tour of the capital.

Hisham Zienalabdien, director general of the forensic medicine department for Khartoum state, said officials are saving DNA samples from unidentified bodies in the hope of someday matching them with relatives.

'I haven't lost faith in finding you'

Sulafa Mustafa's son, 18‑year‑old Suleiman Abdalsid, went to a friend's house near Khartoum two years ago and never came home. She has walked the streets under shelling, knocked on countless doors, visited hospitals and prisons, and shown strangers his photograph. She even rented a microphone to call out his name.

"I haven't lost faith in finding you," she said, covering her face with her hands.

The ICRC told the AP that it has resolved more than 1,000 cases of missing persons but declined to say how many were found alive. Psychologists warn that such "ambiguous loss" can cause years of profound distress for families.

Nathalie Nyamukeba, a psychologist with the ICRC, said: "Families of missing persons experience additional layers of vulnerabilities due to hostilities, displacement and ambiguous loss."

A delayed burial adds to the pain

For Abubakar Alswai, the anguish was different. He waited over a year to move his 73‑year‑old brother Mohamed from where he had been buried in front of his house to a public cemetery. The paramilitary RSF had killed Mohamed and waited three weeks before allowing a neighbour to bury his decomposing body, contradicting Islamic tradition, which calls for burial as quickly as possible.

Alswai wiped tears from his eyes as gravediggers exhumed his brother's remains. At least now, he said, Mohamed would receive a dignified burial and the family could have some peace.

"What happened had left a mark on my heart," he said.

Sudan Police Fire Tear Gas at Electricity Protest in Northern Sudan

Sudan police fire tear gas at electricity protest in northern Sudan

May 22, Abri — Sudanese police dispersed hundreds of protesters in Abri, Northern State, with tear gas on Friday, as demonstrations against prolonged power cuts turned confrontational, with reports of arrests and assaults on women and children.

A protester told Sudan Tribune that security forces used tear gas to break up the crowd, including inside residential neighbourhoods and homes. A number of demonstrators were arrested, according to the same source.

The “Abri Today” movement condemned what it described as the “barbaric behaviour” of security and police forces toward peaceful protesters, holding the authorities fully responsible for the safety of those detained and injured. The movement said previous negotiations with the acting local executive director had failed, and dismissed prior government pledges as attempts to “absorb public anger” rather than address the crisis.

Abri and surrounding villages have been suffering severe daily power cuts for extended hours amid rising temperatures and growing public frustration. The movement warned that the closure of the commercial road linking Wadi Halfa to Dongola — which protesters had previously blocked — “was not a random choice but a legitimate weapon,” and threatened to reimpose the blockade on a wider scale if the security crackdown continues and the electricity crisis is not addressed at its roots.

Sudan’s electricity infrastructure has sustained severe damage during the war, with the National Electricity Corporation estimating that some 15,000 transformers were destroyed and approximately 150,000 kilometres of cable looted from Khartoum for their copper content. Total national generation capacity stands at around 3,000 megawatts from a combination of hydroelectric and thermal sources, but war-damaged thermal plants — particularly in Khartoum’s Bahri district — have significantly reduced available supply.

RSF Defections Erode Combat Core as Tribal Rifts and Battlefield Losses Deepen Internal Crisis

May 19, Nyala — A wave of defections from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has shaken the paramilitary group’s ranks in recent months, with analysts and military experts saying the departures are taking a measurable toll on its battlefield capabilities and internal cohesion after nearly three years of war against the Sudanese Armed Forces.

The most prominent defection came in April, when Major General Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, known as “Al-Nour Al-Qubba” — described as the RSF’s third-ranking field commander — broke ranks and was formally received by Sovereignty Council Chairman General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Sources inside the RSF told Sudan Tribune that Al-Qubba had been placed under surveillance by the RSF leadership following the fall of El Fasher in October 2025, after his communications with a senior security official and a Sovereignty Council member were intercepted, leading to his questioning before he eventually chose to leave.

Ali Rizqallah Al-Savana speaks in press conference in Khartoum on May 16, 2026

In May, Brigadier General Ali Rizqallah, known as “Al-Safna,” announced his own defection and joined the army. Earlier defectors include field commander Bishara Al-Huwaira, who left in January, and Abu Aqla Kaikal — commander of Sudan Shield Forces — who defected in October 2024 and has since fought alongside the army in Gezira, Khartoum, and Kordofan.

Tribal fractures

Crisis management expert Brigadier General Amin Ismail, of the Centre for Research and Strategic Studies, told Sudan Tribune that the RSF’s attack on the Mustaraha pastoral area in North Darfur in February was a turning point. The assault, which targeted the home territory of Musa Hilal — paramount chief of the Mahariya clan from which many RSF commanders originate — triggered the defections of Al-Qubba and Al-Safna, both of whom belong to the Mahariya.

“The attack on Mustaraha was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Amin said, adding that grievances over medical care, salaries, and the favouring of Mahariya rivals over other tribal groups had further deepened discontent. He warned that the current trajectory could give rise to intra-tribal civil conflict distinct from the existing armed insurgency, which would seriously undermine the RSF’s influence over allied communities.

Sudan analyst Mohieddin Mohamed Mohieddin told Sudan Tribune that the defections are not isolated incidents but reflect deep structural fractures within the RSF, which had relied heavily on the Mahariya and Mahariya sub-groups as its core fighting base. He noted that many of the defecting commanders brought their own forces with them — fighters who had received professional training, including in operations outside Sudan — making their departure a significant qualitative loss.

“The RSF has begun to crack from within,” Mohieddin said. “The harder core is gone. What remains are less-trained elements who will be less effective, especially in offensive operations.”

He also noted that the defections are deepening the isolation of the Dagalo family, which controls the RSF leadership, and predicted that other tribal communities — including some Misseriya factions in Kordofan who feel politically marginalised — may follow.

Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, also known as “Hemetti,” delivering a video statement, January 31, 2025.

Mutual exhaustion

Retired Colonel Mohammed Nour, Secretary-General of the Tadamon Central High Command, offered a broader reading of the situation, arguing that both parties to the conflict have reached a stage of mutual exhaustion. He said the defections reflect the RSF’s difficulty sustaining its political and social support base, which any militia relies on to continue fighting.

Nour said the defections carry a significant morale cost for the RSF but acknowledged they could also help clarify internal factional lines. On the operational level, he cautioned that the impact of losing individual commanders may be limited in areas where the RSF is conducting defensive rather than offensive operations, which require less firepower density.

He nonetheless said that the warm official reception given to defectors in Khartoum could encourage further departures among those with weaker loyalty to the RSF leadership.

Sudanese Civilian and Armed Groups Open Nairobi Talks on Ending the War

22 May 2026

May 22, Nairobi — A broad coalition of Sudanese political, civil, and armed movements opened talks in Nairobi on Friday aimed at finding a path to end the war and achieve peace and stability in Sudan.

The opening session of the meeting of the “Sudanese Declaration of Principles Forces for Building a New Homeland” brought together political party leaders, civil society figures, armed movement commanders, and public personalities.

Addresses were delivered by Sudham Alliance “Sumoud” chairman Abdalla Hamdok, Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) leader Abdelwahid Mohamed al-Nur, and other leaders including Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party-Original chairman Ali al-Rayah al-Sanhouri.

The meeting’s agenda centres on the current political situation, the continuation of the war, and the further development of the declaration, according to SLA spokesman Mohamed Abdelrahman, who spoke to Sudan Tribune ahead of the session.

The coalition had signed the Declaration of Principles in Nairobi in mid-December 2025, asserting that “there is no military solution in Sudan” and calling for pressure on the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces, and their armed allies to commit to the roadmap proposed by the Quad mechanism countries in September 2025.

Participants stressed the importance of dialogue, coordination, and joint action among Sudanese across political divides, and reaffirmed the need to unify national efforts toward a comprehensive political solution that ends the war and fulfils the aspirations of the Sudanese people for peace, democracy, and stability.

Among those attending are Hamdok, Abdelwahid al-Nur, Sudanese Congress Party chairman Omar al-Digair, National Umma Party Secretary-General Al-Wathiq al-Barir, SPLM-N Revolutionary Democratic Current leader Yasir Arman, Federal Gathering Executive Office chairman Babiker Faisal, Ba’ath Party-National chairman Kamal Boulad, and Professionals and Unions Coordination chairman Taha Osman.

No Golf, but Roelf Meyer, SA's New Ambassador to US, Will Walk the Course

SA Embassy

Roelf Meyer, South Africa's new ambassador to the U.S.

22 May 2026

Daily Maverick (Johannesburg)

By Victoria O'regan

The most pressing issue for South Africa is improving trade relations between Pretoria and Washington, says new SA ambassador to the US, Roelf Meyer.

Veteran political negotiator Roelf Meyer presented his credentials to President Donald Trump on Thursday, making him the new South African ambassador to the US at a time when political relations between the two countries have been frosty.

Meyer (78) replaces Ebrahim Rasool after more than a year of tension between Pretoria and Washington that followed Trump's return to the White House. Rasool was expelled after insinuating in a public webinar that Trump was a white supremacist.

Ambassador Roelf Meyer begins new chapter for SA-US relations May 20, 2026  Meyer is regarded as one of the foremost architects of South Africa's democratic transition and, before his appointment to the US, served as director of the Transformation Initiative, which engages in peace initiatives around the world and negotiates complex processes in South Africa.

Speaking to the SABC's Oliver Dickson after presenting his credentials to the US President, Meyer said: "We were, altogether, 12 ambassadors from different countries who were received today, and we handed our credentials, on behalf of our respective heads of state, to President Trump personally."

Pressed by Dickson for details of the ceremony, Meyer added: "He [Trump] did ask...

Read the full story on Daily Maverick.

Liberia: Boakai Sends War Crimes Court, Anti-Corruption Bills to Legislature

President Joseph Boakai

22 May 2026

The Liberian Investigator (Monrovia)

By Gibson Gee

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has formally submitted legislation to the House of Representatives seeking to establish a War and Economic Crimes Court and a National Anti-Corruption Court, advancing what supporters describe as the most consequential accountability reforms Liberia has attempted since the end of its civil wars.

The communication, addressed to House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, was read during plenary session on Capitol Hill and referred to the Committees on Judiciary, Good Governance, and Ways, Means and Finance. The committees have two weeks to review both bills and report back to the full House.

"I am pleased to submit, for your consideration and enactment, two landmark bills essential to advancing justice, reconciliation, and sustainable development in our Republic," Boakai wrote in his letter to lawmakers.

The proposed War and Economic Crimes Court would address crimes committed during Liberia's years of political instability and armed conflict between 1979 and 2003. The bill draws heavily from the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which called for criminal accountability for gross human rights violations, war crimes, and economic crimes committed during the civil conflict. It also references Liberia's obligations under international law, including the Geneva Conventions.

Liberia's civil wars left more than 250,000 people dead and thousands more displaced, injured, or psychologically traumatized. Despite decades of pressure from victims' groups, civil society organizations, and international human rights advocates, no formal accountability mechanism has ever been established. Supporters of the initiative argue that the prolonged absence of justice has allowed a culture of impunity to take root inside the country's political and governance systems.

The proposed court would hold jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity, and economic crimes linked to the conflict years. The inclusion of economic crimes carries particular weight for many Liberians, who have long argued that the systematic looting of state resources and illegal wartime commercial activity contributed directly to the collapse of national institutions and the prolongation of suffering during the wars.

The companion legislation would create a specialized National Anti-Corruption Court focused exclusively on corruption-related offenses. Boakai told lawmakers that existing judicial structures have proven inadequate in combating corruption and protecting public resources.

"The devastating impact of corruption on socio-economic rights and national development" demands stronger judicial intervention, the communication stated. The anti-corruption court bill would define acts constituting corruption and establish penalties for those convicted.

Boakai framed both measures as inseparable from Liberia's broader development agenda, arguing that they would rebuild public confidence in governance and bring the country into alignment with international standards on justice and transparency.

"The enactment of these bills will provide accountability for past atrocities and economic crimes, strengthen Liberia's fight against corruption and impunity, enhance public trust in governance and the rule of law, and align Liberia with international standards of justice and transparency," he stated.

The submission has drawn immediate national attention, with many Liberians treating the legislative referral as a historic inflection point, and a direct test of whether the Boakai administration will convert years of rhetoric on justice reform into enforceable law. The two-week committee clock is now running.

Read the original article on Liberian Investigator.

Nigeria Police Deny Rescue of Abducted Oyo Students, Teachers

Premium Times

Oyo State on the Nigerian map.

22 May 2026

Vanguard (Lagos)

By Adeola Badru

The Oyo State Police Command has debunked reports claiming that abducted students, pupils and teachers in Orire Local Government Area have been released, insisting that rescue operations are still ongoing.

In a press statement issued by the police public relations officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the command said security agencies were continuing intensive efforts to secure the safe rescue of the victims and apprehend those behind the abduction.

"The Oyo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that the abducted students, pupils, and teachers in Orire Local Government Area are yet to be released, as intensive efforts by security agencies continue to ensure their safe rescue and the arrest of those responsible for the criminal act," the statement read.

The command dismissed as false the rumour currently circulating that the victims had been rescued and urged residents to remain calm while supporting ongoing security operations.

"The Command hereby debunks the rumour currently circulating that the victims have been rescued. Members of the public are urged to remain calm, support the ongoing efforts of the joint security team, and verify every piece of information before sharing it," the police stated.

The police further warned that the spread of misinformation was capable of undermining rescue operations and creating unnecessary panic among residents.

"The spread of fake news and misinformation only creates unnecessary panic, heightens tension, and diverts limited security resources that are critically needed for the ongoing operations," the statement added.

The Command assured residents of the state that verified updates would be made available as events unfold and advised members of the public seeking authentic information or clarification to contact the Police Public Relations Officer or the Command's control room.

Read the original article on Vanguard.

 As Ebola Resurfaces in DR Congo, So Do Critical Questions About How to Respond

WHO bolsters Ebola disease outbreak response in Uganda.

22 May 2026

The New Humanitarian (Geneva)

By Lebon Kasamira

Bunia & Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo — "It's going to be a real race against time."

A large-scale response has begun to an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that went undetected for up to two months and has already become one of the largest on record, with 671 suspected cases and 160 suspected deaths.

But funding limitations for the Congolese government and international responders, political and security dynamics in the outbreak zone, and troubled responses to past Ebola epidemics in DRC are raising concerns about efforts to contain the spread.

"We are trying to fight the disease with the equipment and resources available in order to save our people, who have already suffered from insecurity for a long time and now face a new ordeal," said Chérubin Radjabu, a nurse in the outbreak area.

The epidemic, centred in Ituri province but with cases in North Kivu, South Kivu, and neighbouring Uganda, involves the extremely rare Bundibugyo variant, for which there have been only two past outbreaks and are no approved vaccines or treatments.

The severity of the situation led World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to fast-track the declaration on 17 May of a public health emergency of international concern, which allows for greater mobilisation of resources.

A zoonotic disease that spreads from animals to humans, and then between people, Ebola is less transmissible than many other infectious diseases, spreading through direct contact with an infected person's blood or body fluids.

WHO says the outbreak does not pose a pandemic threat, but still presents a severe national and regional health risk, given the up to 50% fatality rate of Bundibugyo, and the lack of vaccines and therapeutics, which are available for other strains.

To deal with the threat, treatment centres are now being set up, isolation tents installed in hospitals, and medical supplies shipped to the outbreak zone, alongside responders from the Congolese health ministry and international organisations.

DRC has contained 16 previous Ebola outbreaks and has world-leading expertise, but past responses have also struggled, most notably to a 2018-2020 North Kivu-centred flare up, which was the first to unfold in an active conflict zone and became the second-worst outbreak in history.

The current epidemic is also unfolding in conflict-affected areas, as well as amid global aid cuts and a fraught political situation in the country, all of which could significantly complicate the response.

"A race against time"

Of chief concern is tracking cases and determining the true extent of the outbreak, with modelling by Imperial College London suggesting there could already be more than 1,000 infections.

Though it is unclear who patient zero is, the first known case died at a medical centre in Bunia, the Ituri capital, on 24 April. He was then buried 70 kilometres away in Mongbwalu, where mourners touched the body, unaware he had died from Ebola.

By the time an outbreak was declared on 15 May - following prolonged testing delays and transportation mishaps - people had been travelling around for weeks, making it difficult to figure out who had contact with those infected.

"Unfortunately, this was addressed very late," said Claire Nicolet, an emergency coordinator with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). "It's going to be a real race against time to try and trace the contacts who may have travelled and even crossed borders."

Mongbwalu, the current epicentre, is a mining town that hosts thousands of artisanal diggers who work to extract small amounts of gold. A growing number of fatalities have been recorded there in recent days.

"There have been many deaths; today, I've seen several funerals, all without any protective equipment," Daniel Mupenda, a miner who works in the town, said on 17 May in a telephone interview.

Issa Hassan, a Bunia resident who is secretary to the Ituri governor, said fear has taken hold over many people in his city - a commercial hub of hundreds of thousands of people - and he is wondering if his children should be attending school.

"The authorities are taking this very seriously, and the minister of health came from Kinshasa to assess the response capacity," Hassan said. "But we are going to need the help of international partners."

Other residents of Bunia have still been going about their daily activities. Churches have been full, roadside vendors are at work, and motorcycle taxis continue to carry passengers and goods.

In health facilities, however, the strain is more visible. MSF has reported that isolation wards are full, leaving some patients behind in the community and increasing the risk of further transmission.

Kahongya, the nurse who specialises in infection control in Bunia, said health workers are facing multiple challenges: insufficient protective equipment, a lack of funding, and transport and access constraints in some affected areas.

Still, he said local health facilities have the capacity to deal with the situation "thanks to the experience gained during previous Ebola outbreaks and the COVID-19 pandemic".

Serge Kambale Sivyavugha, a researcher and general practitioner, cautioned that there is a lack of a "sufficiently resilient health system prepared to deal with this type of epidemic" because past responses have not built enough capacity on the ground.

"When interventions are managed exclusively from the central level and rely mainly on external teams, they do not strengthen the local system," he said. "On the contrary, they create a dependency that becomes problematic as soon as these actors disperse."

A limited toolkit

The second major concern is how to manage the outbreak without a licensed vaccine and approved treatments -- key tools that have significantly improved responses to other Ebola strains.

Speaking to journalists including The New Humanitarian in Bunia on 21 May, Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said "a major vaccine research programme" is now underway with international partners.

Still, responders will be relying for now on core public health measures to break transmission, such as early case detection, isolation, contact tracing, and safe burials. These measures have controlled many previous outbreaks in DRC.

Some fear global aid cuts could hamper the response, just as they may have weakened DRC's ability to prepare for the outbreak. The WHO is under particular strain after the US ceased funding and withdrew from the agency.

Pledges have still been made: The UK is providing $26 million, South Africa $2.5 million, the US $23 million, and the UN has allocated $60 from an emergency fund. However, this is well short of the nearly $1 billion mobilised for the 2018-2020 outbreak.

Stewart Muhindo, a researcher who studied the 2018-2020 epidemic, which also affected North Kivu and Ituri, said the funding cuts may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

He said the scale of the spending in 2018-2020 created problems and detached the response from local realities. He gave the example of responders using large convoys to transport patients to treatment centres as an example of the disconnect.

At the time, communities questioned why a large-scale government and international response materialised for Ebola, but not for years of massacres or preventable diseases such as cholera and malaria. Some believed ulterior motives were at play.

The huge influx of money into the local economy also created incentive structures that led some individuals and groups to develop an interest in prolonging the outbreak, leading to what was locally referred to as "Ebola business".

"By capitalising on the lessons learned from past experience and leveraging existing resources, it's possible to compensate for this lack of funding," Muhindo told The New Humanitarian.

Coordination concerns

The third critical issue is that the epidemic is unfolding in an unstable security context. There are multiple armed groups present in Ituri, and fighting has escalated over the past decade, involving different militias and the Congolese army.

Nearly a million people are displaced in the province - which has limited infrastructure and a poor road network - with many living in overcrowded camps. About 100,000 people were displaced in the first quarter of 2026 alone.

Dozens of armed groups also operate in North Kivu and South Kivu, including the Rwanda-backed M23, which has set up a parallel rebel administration headquartered in Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC.

The fragmented control of territory could have major implications for coordination between the state administration in Ituri and M23-run parts of North Kivu and South Kivu, with both sides already seeking to capitalise from the situation.

Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya said on 19 May that if Kinshasa is to mount an effective and urgent response to the epidemic, Rwandan forces and their M23 allies must withdraw from Congolese territory.

Rather than focusing on coordination, Muhindo said he had also heard M23 members "boasting that it is the government-controlled areas that will endanger us, but we are being rigorous".

"There is a real risk that the response will be politicised, and we all know that when it is politicised, unfortunately, it leads to very significant damage," Muhindo said.

One way to reduce politicisation, the researcher added, is to ensure that response efforts are integrated and coordinated through local health structures "rather than managed by political authorities".

Sivyavugha, the researcher and general practitioner, echoed that view. He said the management of the outbreak should fall under the purview of competent national health bodies and not "actors driven by political considerations".

Jacinthe Maarifa, a humanitarian worker with the local NGO AGIR-RDC, said both sides - the government and the M23 - have a "moral obligation" to work together, and expressed hope that UN mechanisms, including those of the WHO, will help.

One place to start, Maarifa said, would be reopening Goma airport, which is needed to bring in supplies and personnel but is non-operational due to the conflict and ensuing disrepair. The M23 says it would allow it to reopen if it is placed under its control, but Kinshasa would be reluctant to permit flights into rebel-held airspace.

Learning from the past

Although DRC has been battling Ebola for decades, and in some cases with great success, a fourth concern lies around the possibility of responders replicating mistakes from the 2018-2020 outbreak.

Seeking to prevent a repeat of the West Africa epidemic - the largest in history, with more than 11,000 deaths - responders and donors deployed a "no regrets" policy that saw hundreds of millions of dollars spent.

But the influx of resources and outside experts - whether from non-outbreak areas in DRC or abroad - was viewed with suspicion by many who had long experienced neglect or direct violence by the state and international organisations.

That wariness was exacerbated by the creation of a parallel health system, which saw treatment delivered outside of better trusted local health structures. Separate treatment centres were built and then largely dismantled when the outbreak ended.

"I remember, for example, that in all the areas where Ebola is currently raging, there were Ebola treatment centres, but they were built with tarpaulins," Muhindo said. He called for responders to build more durable infrastructure "integrated into the local health system".

The 2018-2020 response, led by the government and the WHO, also alienated communities by working openly with already distrusted soldiers and police who implemented draconian measures, such as forcibly transporting people to treatment centres.

In some cases, the WHO allegedly engaged local militias to provide security, yet this meant feeding into a volatile conflict ecosystem. Militias excluded from jobs launched attacks on health centres in an effort to secure a share of resources.

Women recruited to work in the response were, meanwhile, abused en masse, especially by WHO staff who made job offers contingent on sex. The situation, revealed by The New Humanitarian, snowballed into one of the worst sexual abuse scandals in UN history.

Already in the current outbreak, a hospital near Bunia was attacked by protesters seeking to retrieve the body of a young man who had died of Ebola. A well-placed medical source in the area said two tents were burned, an ambulance was damaged, and patients fled, including some who had tested positive.

Muhindo said he believes communities today do want to collaborate with responders but that the government and its partners will have to avoid past failures that "saw a lot of militarisation and a significant focus on money rather than on people".

Maarifa, of AGIR-RDC, said the response must not give the impression of a centralised, external operation arriving to "to tell people how to live". If it does, he added, "it will once again face ingrained [distrust] and accusations of profiteering."

Sivyavugha agreed that it is critical not to militarise the response and instead to trust communities and their "significant knowledge" of disease management. An effective approach, he said, must be built with communities, not imposed upon them.

Above all, Sivyavugha added, the response should be designed to sustainably strengthen the health system, which means investing in local infrastructure such as diagnostic laboratories, and in local staff, rather than bypassing them as was done before.

"For me, managing an epidemic like Ebola can only be effective if measures are anticipated, rather than implemented only after the outbreak has been declared," he said.

Edited by Andrew Gully.

Read this report on The New Humanitarian. The New Humanitarian puts quality, independent journalism at the service of the millions of people affected by humanitarian crises around the world.

Women More Likely Than Men to Die During an Ebola Outbreak: UN Body

UN Women

UN Women delivered Chief of Humanitarian Action Sofia Calltorp addressing a press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

22 May 2026

allAfrica.com

By Peter Kenny

Geneva — History has repeatedly shown us that women are more likely than men to die during an Ebola outbreak, the chief of humanitarian action of UN Women has said in Geneva.

"This is not because the disease is more deadly for women once they are infected," Sofia Calltorp addressed journalists at a UN press conference during the 2026 session of the World Health Assembly (WHA), taking place in Geneva. "It is because women are more likely to be infected in the first place."

Virus hits women as caregivers

Calltorp said this was evident during the 2018–2019 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where women and girls accounted for around two-thirds of reported cases. "We saw it in Liberia in 2014 where, in some communities, women accounted for up to three-quarters of Ebola deaths; and 50 years ago in the DRC, where women accounted for 56 per cent of those who died." She said that was because Ebola transmission follows social realities.

"The virus spreads along the lines of caregiving, domestic labour, front-line health work, and burial practices," said Calltorp. "Because when people are sick, women look after them."

World Health Assembly debates continue

During debates on several issues, some delegates said the annual management meeting of the World Health Organisation, the WHA, should not be politicised.

Still, political issues were prevalent in several debates, including an annual debate on Taiwan's presence at the assembly that was not accepted by a majority of those voting.

Peter Kenny

Eswatini Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula addressing a side event organized by Taiwan during the 2026 World Health Assembly.

The United States withdrew from the WHO on January 22, so it was not present at the proceedings.

Among countries that voted on a WHA motion condemning Iranian attacks in the  Gulf region, amid global health supply disruptions, Tunisia voted in favour, while Angola, DRC, Ghana, Mali, Namibia and South Africa abstained.

Tom Fletcher, the UN Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said on Friday (May 22) his section was allocating up to $60 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to accelerate the response in the DRC and the wider region.

Taiwan makes case with HealthTech Expo

Taiwan was absent from the May 18-23 WHA Assembly for the tenth consecutive year due to China's powerful lobbying influence.

So, Taiwan made its case in Geneva with the 2026 Taiwan Smart Medical and HealthTech Expo as a mini assembly of its own at the Geneva hotel.

The only African country to support Taiwan's presence at the WHA held at the UN in Geneva was Eswatini. The landlocked southern African country, which borders South Africa, also took part in an event showcasing innovations from 9 Taiwanese hospitals and 21 companies across the medtech, biotech, and life sciences sectors. Eswatini's health minister, Mduduzi Matsebula, thanked Taiwan for its support.

Taiwan's health minister Shih Chung-liang said at a press conference before the WHA that Chinese pressure may have impacted attendance at events organized by his country. Shih said, "Taiwan has submitted an official letter of protest to WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, urging the organization to allow Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer."

Mali Eid Celebrations Dimmed by Insecurity, Shortages and Surging Costs 

Eid al-Adha

Hemmed in by a jihadist blockade of the Malian capital, Muslims in Bamako have been forced to spend Eid away from their families this year.

Originally from the central city of Mopti, Alpha Amadou, 40, has had to give up his usual journey home for the major holiday, known locally as Tabaski.

"For the first time in 30 years living in Bamako, I'll be celebrating Eid here this year," he told AFP.

Since late April, fighters from Al-Qaeda's Sahel branch have imposed a road blockade on the main routes into Bamako, torching dozens of buses and freight trucks.

Though the blockade is only partial, images of charred vehicles have deterred many transport services from operating and travellers from heading back to their villages.

In Mali, Tabaski goes far beyond religion. It is a major social tradition, one of the few times when families, often scattered by work for months, come together.

But in Bamako's bus stations, the usual pre-holiday rush has given way to an eerie calm. Alongside insecurity, fuel shortages have also hit the transport sector.

"Not only do we lack diesel to keep running, but we've also lost buses in recent incidents. It's a huge economic blow," said the owner of a local travel agency, speaking anonymously.

"Normally, we could transport more than 50,000 people from Bamako to other regions in a week for Tabaski. This year, we're not planning any trips," added a manager at another transport company.

For Wara Bagayoko, the ritual has always been the same: pack up the family car and head to Segou in central Mali to celebrate together.

But this time, he will stay behind, as even private cars have become targets.

"It will be the first time in 30 years I won't celebrate in my village. The road is too dangerous," he said.

"Before, about 20 of us would travel together on motorbikes to Sikasso (in the south) to celebrate," added Oumar Diarra. "This year, we'll stay in Bamako."

A few minibuses still slip into the city, taking backroads or travelling with a military escort.

- Sheep in short supply -

The disruption to transport is also choking the livestock trade, which is essential for the traditional Tabaski sacrifice.

Because of the blockade, herders and traders are struggling to bring animals to Bamako, the country's main consumer market.

The cost of transporting one animal, usually around 2,500 to 2,750 CFA francs (almost $5), has jumped this year to between 15,000 and 18,000 CFA francs ($26-$31), said transporter Alassane Maiga.

As a result, sheep are scarce and far more expensive in a country where the monthly minimum wage is just 40,000 CFA francs.

"Many trucks of sheep have been burned by jihadists... Normally, I'd have more than 1,000 animals, but today, not a single one," said Bamako vendor Hama Ba.

"Sheep we used to buy for 75,000 francs are now going for 300,000. Before, there was plenty to choose from, but now they've almost vanished from Bamako," said Iyi, who was searching for one he could afford.

- Power cuts -

The security crisis is creeping into daily life, as basic services break down in the city.

Bamako is struggling with prolonged power outages and major shortages of drinking water.

Festive outfits known as "Selifini" remain unfinished in tailors' workshops, held up by the frequent power cuts.

"We tried using a small solar panel," said dressmaker Alou Diallo. "But it can't replace electricity."

Families are also worried about storing food for the celebration.

"How are we supposed to keep meat without electricity? Buying an expensive sheep only to lose it within 24 hours due to power cuts is a real fear," said a mother on the outskirts of Sirakoro.

In recent days, authorities have announced the arrival of hundreds of fuel tankers in the capital, offering some hope of relief.

But for many, the road home for Eid has already shut.

Morocco Building Collapse Kills at Least Nine

By Africa News with AFP

Morocco

A residential building in the Moroccan city of Fes collapsed on Thursday, killing nine people and injuring others, authorities said.

An initial toll reported by state-run news agency MAP said four people died and six were injured in the accident.

It was unclear how many people in total were inside the five-storey building when it crumpled.

The latest toll was still preliminary, according to a Fes court which announced it, adding that an investigation had been opened.

Last December, two other buildings collapsed in Fes, killing a total of 22 people.

And in May last year, also in Fes, nine people died when a residential building fell.

Logistical Issues Delay Evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa

Ghana said on Friday it has delayed for a few days the evacuation of hundreds of its citizens from South Africa due to logistical issues.

More than 800 Ghanaians registered with the High Commission in Pretoria for help returning home during a recent wave of anti-immigrant protests.

In one incident, a viral video showed the alleged assault of a Ghanaian man by a crowd of people demanding to see his papers and then questioning their authenticity.

The first batch of 300 people were due to leave on Thursday, but Accra said the process was delayed because of the large numbers.

It said South African legal conditions have to be met, including mandatory passenger screening, multi-institutional coordination, and flight permits.

Authorities from the two countries have agreed to accelerate the process.

Xenophobic attacks in South Africa have flared up periodically, but there have been heightened tensions following the recent wave of demonstrations.

People took to the streets across the country demanding the immediate deportation of undocumented foreigners.

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation has called on African countries to partner with Pretoria to address issues of illegal migration.

Ghana's government has promised to give those it is evacuating from South Africa a reintegration financial package and psycho-social support.

CAR's President Touadéra Appoints New Government

President Faustin-Archange Touadera of the Central African Republic

The president of Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadera has appointed a new government, one month after taking office for a third time.

The latest line up of ministers is largely the same as before, with just 10 new faces joining the 29-person council. Prime Minister Felix Moloua has also been reappointed.

Touadera was re-elected in December with close to 78 percent of the vote, according to official results. The opposition contested the outcome, with Touadera's main rival Anicet-Georges Dologuele denouncing it as "massive fraud," pointing to Touadera concentration of power within state institutions.

The announcement of the new government follows the opening of parliament earlier this month. Of the 144 seats, only 90 members were sworn in.

The remaining 54 are still waiting the results of the second round of elections after poll workers went on strike over unpaid wages.

Ebola Risk is High Inside DR Congo But It’s No Pandemic Emergency: WHO

UNICEF staff and workers load boxes and containers with aid supplies in a warehouse in Kinshasa.

© UNICEF/Josue Mulala Emergency aid is prepared for delivery to Kasaï province in response to the recently declared Ebola virus disease outbreak in DR Congo.

By Daniel Johnson, Geneva

20 May 2026 Health

The deadly Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda does not represent a global pandemic emergency, although the risk is high at a regional and national level, the UN health agency chief said on Wednesday.

In an update on the fast-developing situation in eastern DRC, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that beyond the several dozen confirmed cases of infection, there are almost 600 suspected cases of Ebola Bundibugyo virus and 139 suspected deaths. 

“We expect those numbers to keep increasing, given the amount of time the virus was circulating before the outbreak was detected,” the WHO Director-General told journalists in Geneva.

Uganda reported two confirmed cases of Ebola in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, he added.

In the absence of any vaccine or therapeutics for the virus - which Tedros stressed is extremely rare and was last detected in 2007 - WHO teams are already working with community leaders in the epicentre province, Ituri, to help prevent wider transmission. 

Decades of violence in mineral-rich eastern DR Congo have contributed to chronic vulnerability among the population, including healthcare workers caught up in ongoing insecurity. 

According to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, there are more than two million people internally displaced in the affected provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, where the provincial capital of Goma remains under the control of rebel militia M23.

“We always have a team in Goma and we always continue to provide us support to the population. And this is what we will continue doing this, during this outbreak…we never left Goma during all the insecurity happening, so we will continue staying to provide the security to the community we serve,” stressed WHO’s Dr Marie Roseline Belizaire, Regional Emergency Director (ad interim) and Incident Manager.

Danger zone

Underscoring the “inherently challenging” task of detecting outbreaks of Ebola in Ituri province where April saw a new spike in civilian deaths, WHO’s Regional Director for Africa Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, explained that effective disease surveillance depends on reliable community reporting, local health facilities being open and laboratory confirmation of infection. 

“In remote or insecure areas, it can take time for cases to be recognised,” he said, pointing out that Ebola Bundibugyo virus was only identified after samples were transported some 1,700 kilometres (1,056 miles) across the country to the capital, Kinshasa.

“As soon as WHO was aware of the [threat], support was provided to DR Congo to investigate as quickly as possible. And this ended up with the confirmation late last week,” stressed Dr Anais Legand, WHO Technical Officer for Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers. 

“Investigations are ongoing to ascertain when and where exactly this outbreak started. Given the scale, we are thinking that it started probably a couple of months ago, but investigations are ongoing and our priority is really to cut the transmission chain.”

Wednesday’s briefing followed a meeting of the WHO ​Emergency Committee ‌on Tuesday in Geneva which confirmed that the Ebola outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern but not ​a pandemic emergency.

Low transmission 

Chair of the panel, Prof Lucille H Blumberg, stressed that Ebola transmission is through direct contact with blood and body fluids of an infected person – which was likely the case of a patient who died on 5 May in Bunia, capital city of Ituri province, after their family decided to replace the coffin. 

“So, it's not casual contact, it's not airborne. I think we need to be aware of that. And this relates to travel restrictions, which are not supported under the [International Health Regulations] IHR recommendations,” she insisted.

Prof Blumbert underlined the challenges of bringing the outbreak under control given the ongoing humanitarian crisis, security challenges, the highly mobile population, and close proximity to many borders.

“Resources, additional people…research and development of countermeasures [are] urgently required,” she insisted, including intensified surveillance and identification of potential contacts.

It was in accordance with IHR Article 12 that Tedros on Sunday declared a public health emergency of international concern over the Ebola outbreak.

Ebola Disease Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda

May 19, 2026

At a glance

Distributed via the CDC Health Alert Network

May 19, 2026

Summary

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to alert clinicians, public health practitioners, and travelers about a new outbreak of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda caused by the Bundibugyo virus (species Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense). The risk of spread to the United States is considered low at this time. As a precaution, this Health Advisory summarizes CDC recommendations for U.S. health departments, clinical laboratories, and healthcare workers about potential Ebola disease case identification, testing, and biosafety considerations in clinical laboratories.

Background

On May 15, 2026, the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) confirmed an outbreak of Ebola disease in Ituri Province in northeastern DRC. As of May 16, 2026, a total of 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths have been reported. Laboratory analysis conducted by the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) confirmed the cause as Bundibugyo virus infection in 8 of 13 samples collected from suspected cases associated with clusters of severe illness and deaths in the Mongbwalu and Rwampara health zones in Ituri Province. Patients presented with symptoms including fever, generalized body pain, weakness, vomiting, and in some cases bleeding. Several patients reportedly deteriorated rapidly and died. The outbreak is occurring in areas affected by insecurity, population displacement, mining-related population movement, and frequent cross-border travel, all of which may increase the risk of further transmission. In neighboring Uganda, health authorities confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) in a patient who had traveled from DRC and later died while receiving care. Ugandan authorities have activated surveillance, screening, and response measures.

On May 15, 2026, CDC issued a Level 1 Travel Health Notice for people traveling to Uganda and a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for people traveling to DRC. On May 17, the World Health Organization determined this outbreak to be a public health emergency of international concern. As of May 18, no suspected, probable, or confirmed Ebola cases related to this outbreak have been reported in the United States.

This is the 17th recorded Ebola outbreak in DRC since the virus was first identified in 1976. The previous Ebola outbreak in DRC ended in December 2025. The Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus was first identified in Uganda in 2007 and has historically been associated with somewhat lower case fatality rates than other species of Ebola virus disease, though severe disease and death can still occur. Previous outbreaks of BVD have had mortality rates of approximately 25%-50%.

CDC is working through its country offices and partners in DRC and Uganda to provide technical assistance with disease tracking and contact tracing, laboratory sample collection and testing, virus sequencing, infection prevention and control (IPC) efforts, border health screening, and coordination with affected countries and international public health partners. Case numbers are subject to change as the situation evolves.

The risk of spread to the United States is considered low at this time. However, it is possible for travelers from affected areas in DRC or Uganda to enter the United States. Therefore, as an additional precaution, CDC is working to raise awareness of this outbreak among travelers, public health departments, public health and clinical laboratories, and healthcare workers in the United States.

Ebola disease is caused by a group of viruses known as orthoebolaviruses (formerly ebolavirus). Ebola disease most commonly affects humans and nonhuman primates, such as monkeys, chimpanzees, and gorillas. Four orthoebolaviruses cause illness in people, presenting as clinically similar disease:

Ebola virus (species Orthoebolavirus zairense) causes Ebola virus disease.

Sudan virus (species Orthoebolavirus sudanense) causes Sudan virus disease.

Taï Forest virus (species Orthoebolavirus taiense) causes Taï Forest virus disease.

Bundibugyo virus (species Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense) causes Bundibugyo virus disease.

The incubation period for BVD ranges from 2 to 21 days after exposure. A person infected with an orthoebolavirus is not considered contagious until after symptoms appear. Early "dry" symptoms include fever, aches, pains, and fatigue and later "wet" symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding. Ebola disease is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the body fluids (e.g., blood, urine, feces, saliva, semen, or other secretions) of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola disease. Ebola disease can also be transmitted to humans from infected animals, or through contact with objects like needles that are contaminated with the virus. Ebola disease is not spread through airborne transmission.

In the absence of early diagnosis and appropriate supportive care, Ebola disease has a high mortality rate. There is currently no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-licensed or authorized vaccine to protect against Bundibugyo virus infection. The Ebola vaccine licensed in the United States (ERVEBO®) is indicated for preventing Ebola disease due to a different species of Ebola virus (species Orthoebolavirus zairense) only, and based on studies in animals, this vaccine is not expected to protect against Bundibugyo virus or other orthoebolaviruses. There is currently no FDA-approved or authorized treatment for BVD, but there are therapies that have shown some efficacy in animal models. With intense supportive care and fluid replacement, mortality rates may be lowered.

CDC has developed recommendations for U.S.-based organizations (e.g., nongovernmental, faith-based, academic, or aid organizations) with staff working in affected areas: Recommendations for Organizations Sending U.S.-based Personnel to Areas with VHF Outbreaks.

Recommendations for Clinicians

Systematically assess patients with compatible symptoms (e.g., fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal symptoms, or unexplained bleeding) for exposure risk and the possibility of viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) including BVD through a triage and evaluation process including a travel history. Early identification of BVD or other VHFs is important for providing appropriate and prompt patient care and preventing the spread of infection.

Include BVD in the differential diagnosis for an ill person who has compatible symptoms AND who has reported epidemiological risk factors, such as one or more of the following, within the 21 days before symptom onset:

Had direct contact with a symptomatic person with suspected or confirmed BVD (alive or dead), or with any objects contaminated by their body fluids.

Experienced a breach in infection prevention and control precautions that resulted in the potential for contact with body fluids of a patient with suspected or confirmed BVD.

Participated in any of the following activities while in an area with an active BVD outbreak:

Had contact with someone who was sick or died, or with any objects contaminated by their body fluids.

Attended or participated in funeral rituals, including preparing bodies for funeral or burial.

Visited or worked in a healthcare facility or laboratory.

Had contact with bats.

Consider and perform testing for more common diagnoses such as malaria, COVID-19, influenza, or other common causes of gastrointestinal and febrile illnesses in an acutely ill patient with recent international travel and evaluate and manage the patient appropriately.

Know that patients with BVD can present with concurrent infections (e.g., coinfection with malaria), and the possibility of a concurrent infection should be considered if a patient has a clinical and epidemiologic history compatible with BVD. A history of being in the DRC or Uganda during the past 21 days should not be a reason to defer routine laboratory testing or other measures necessary for standard patient care.

A travel flag in electronic or other available health records is crucial for quickly identifying patients who have recently been in areas with VHF outbreaks, enabling timely detection and infection control.

Immediately isolate and hospitalize patients who have both an exposure risk AND any symptoms compatible with BVD in a healthcare facility until receiving a negative BVD test result on a specimen collected ≥72 hours after symptom onset. If a specimen is collected <72 hours after symptom onset and is negative for BVD, the patient should remain isolated in the healthcare facility and another test should be performed on a new specimen taken ≥72 hours after symptom onset. Pursue routine laboratory testing to monitor the patient’s clinical status and diagnostic testing to assess other potential causes of the patient’s illness while BVD testing is underway. Do not delay BVD diagnostic testing while awaiting results of other diagnostic testing.

Patients should be placed in isolation at their presenting medical facility and cared for using recommended infection control precautions. Personnel caring for the patient should be trained on and wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while BVD test results are pending.

If a patient has a positive BVD test result, transfer the patient to a Regional Emerging Special Pathogens Treatment Center or a state-designated special pathogens treatment center, depending on the jurisdiction.

If BVD is suspected, contact your state, tribal, local, or territorial health department immediately (via 24-hour Epi-on-call contact list) and follow jurisdictional protocols for patient assessment. When a diagnosis of BVD is considered, health departments will work with CDC and the clinical team to help coordinate care and testing for the patient and help ensure appropriate precautions are taken to prevent potential spread.

Counsel patients with planned travel to a BVD outbreak-affected area on ways to prevent exposure during their travel. Prevention methods include:

Avoid contact with blood and body fluids (or with materials possibly contaminated with blood and body fluids) of people who are sick.

Avoid exposure to semen from a man who has recovered from Ebola disease until testing shows that the virus is no longer in the semen.

Do not touch the body of someone who died from suspected or confirmed BVD without appropriate precautions, such as during funeral or burial practices.

Avoid contact with bats, bat urine or droppings, forest antelopes, nonhuman primates, and blood, fluids, or raw meat from these or unknown animals.

Refrain from entering areas known to be inhabited by bats, such as mines or caves.

Counsel travelers to avoid visiting healthcare facilities in outbreak areas for nonurgent medical care or for nonmedical reasons, and to avoid visiting traditional healers.

Counsel healthcare workers traveling to the DRC or Uganda for work in clinical settings of their potential increased risk of exposure to BVD, the importance of following recommended infection prevention and control precautions as noted above and monitoring themselves for symptoms of BVD during their stay and after their return to the United States.

Be prepared to follow CDC’s Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients in U.S. Hospitals who are Suspected or Confirmed to have Selected Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers.

Be aware of CDC guidance for Public Health Management of People with Suspected or Confirmed VHF or High-Risk Exposures.

Recommendations for Public Health Departments

Follow your established jurisdictional protocols about patient assessment to determine if testing for BVD is warranted for a patient with concerning clinical and epidemiologic history for BVD if identified in your jurisdiction.

Coordinate patient management, specimen collection, and BVD testing with state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments, CDC, and the clinical team.

Contact CDC’s Viral Special Pathogens Branch (VSPB) 24/7 for consultations about BVD or other VHFs. Call CDC’s Emergency Operations Center at 770-488-7100 and request VSPB’s on-call epidemiologist. For non-emergency inquiries, email spather@cdc.gov.

For suspected cases, request testing for BVD and other VHFs from CDC (Atlanta, Georgia) or the Laboratory Response Network (LRN).

To date, 46 geographically diverse LRN laboratories can test using the Biofire Warrior Panel or the Global Fever Special Pathogens Panel. In addition, 13 Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers (RESPTC) have internal diagnostic capacity using the Biofire Warrior Panel, Global Fever Special Pathogens Panel, or Biothreats-E. Patient evaluation at such centers is coordinated through public health officials in coordination with RESPTC leadership.

The Biofire Warrior Panel and Global Fever Special Pathogens Panel can detect orthomarburgviruses (Marburg and Ravn viruses) and orthoebolaviruses (Ebola, Sudan, TaïForest, Bundibugyo, and Reston viruses) in addition to other high-consequence pathogens.

Per manufacturers’ recommendations, results from these test kits are presumptive, and results require additional testing, which can be performed at CDC.

Be aware of CDC’s Travel Health Notice for suspected BVD in the DRC and Uganda, and consider engaging travel health clinics or other clinical and public health partners to increase awareness about BVD.

Review CDC’s recommendations for Public Health Management of People with Suspected or Confirmed VHF or High-Risk Exposures.

Recommendations for Clinical Laboratory Biosafety

Be aware that early symptoms of BVD are similar to those of other febrile illnesses in recent international travelers.

Follow CDC's Standard Precautions for All Patient Care, which includes Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, and the Biosafety in Microbiology and Biomedical Laboratories Appendix N to reduce the risk of laboratory-acquired illnesses from bloodborne pathogens, such as VHFs and other high-consequence diseases.

Handle all blood and body fluids (e.g., urine, pleural fluid) as if they contain an unknown pathogen, taking the necessary precautions to avoid exposure.

Be prepared to perform routine laboratory testing that is critical to evaluating an ill traveler.

Have a written Exposure Control Plan in place to eliminate or minimize employees' risk of exposure to blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious materials.

Make recommended PPE available and train staff to properly put on ("don") and take off ("doff") their PPE.

If a laboratory needs to ship specimens to another facility they should do so in collaboration with public health following appropriate packing and shipping requirements.

Recommendations for U.S. Travelers

CDC recommends avoiding nonessential travel to Ituri and Nord-Kivu provinces in DRC. If they travel to DRC, travelers should take precautions as described in CDC's level 3 Travel Health Notice, including taking steps to avoid possible exposure to BVD and monitoring themselves for symptoms while in DRC and for 21 days after leaving. Travelers who develop symptoms during this time should self-isolate and contact local health authorities or a clinician.

Travelers to Uganda are recommended to follow recommendations in CDC's level 1 Travel Health Notice including taking steps to avoid possible exposure to BVD and monitoring themselves for symptoms while in Uganda and for 21 days after leaving. Travelers who develop symptoms during this time should self-isolate and contact local health authorities or a clinician.

Recommendations for the Public

Protect yourself and prevent the spread of BVD when living in or traveling to a region where Bundibugyo virus is potentially present or that is currently experiencing an outbreak.

In affected areas, take the following actions to protect yourself:

Avoid contact with sick people who have symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and rash.

Avoid contact with blood and other body fluids.

Avoid materials possibly contaminated with blood or other body fluids of people who are sick.

Avoid semen from men who have recovered from BVD until testing shows that the virus is no longer in the semen.

Avoid visiting healthcare facilities for nonurgent medical care or for nonmedical reasons.

Avoid visiting traditional healers.

Do not participate in funeral or burial practices that involve touching the body of someone who died.

Keep away from bats, forest antelopes, non-human primates (e.g., monkeys, chimpanzees, gorillas), and avoid contact with blood, fluids, or raw meat from these or unknown animals.

Do not enter areas where bats live, such as mines or caves.

Monitor your health while you are in, and for 21 days after you return from, an area experiencing a BVD outbreak.

If you develop any symptoms of BVD during this time, isolate (separate) yourself immediately from others, do not travel, and contact local health authorities or a healthcare facility for advice.

Before you enter a healthcare facility, alert the healthcare providers of your recent presence in a BVD-affected area.

Bundibugyo Virus: Why This Ebola Disease Outbreak is Different

An MSF expert on epidemic response answers common questions about the outbreak of Ebola disease currently sweeping through parts of DR Congo.

May 21, 2026

MSF teams train staff at Kyeshero Hospital in Goma, North Kivu province, on how to work in an Ebola environment.MSF teams train staff at Kyeshero Hospital in Goma, North Kivu province, on how to work in an Ebola environment. | DR Congo 2026 © Maria Elena del Carre/MSF

Outbreaks and epidemics

On May 15, 2026, an Ebola disease outbreak was officially declared in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams have several programs providing health care to local communities impacted by conflict, epidemics, and lack of access to health care. Authorities have now reported more than 500 suspected cases and 130 deaths across multiple health zones, and several cases have been confirmed across the border in Uganda.  

John Johnson is MSF’s medical lead for epidemic response. Here, he explains what is different about this outbreak and some of the challenges our teams anticipate facing.

What makes this outbreak different from previous outbreaks of Ebola disease?

What makes this outbreak different and significantly harder to fight is the type of virus that causes Ebola disease. This is the Bundibugyo virus — not the same virus the world knows from the major West Africa epidemic that occurred between 2014 and 2016. That outbreak, and the 2018–2020 one in DRC, ultimately drove major scientific advances: Vaccines and treatments now exist for that specific virus, known as “Ebola virus” (formally called the “Zaire virus”). But for the Bundibugyo virus — which also causes Ebola disease — no vaccine or treatment has been approved so far.

This is the 17th Ebola disease outbreak DRC has experienced since the first case was discovered in 1976, and the third to specifically involve the Bundibugyo virus, following outbreaks in Uganda in 2007–2008 and in DRC in 2012.  

The MSF team sets up an Ebola isolation zone at Kyeshero Hospital in Goma, North Kivu province.

Are there vaccines available to fight this outbreak?

There are currently two approved vaccines against Ebola disease, but neither is approved for use in cases of infection with the Bundibugyo virus.

The Ervebo vaccine (rVSV-ZEBOV) can be used to limit the spread of the disease through a so-called “ring vaccination” strategy, meaning it is administered to people who have been in contact with an infected individual, secondary contacts, and health care workers. There is another vaccine that can be used during outbreaks for people at risk of exposure to the virus, and as a preventive measure before outbreaks for frontline responders or those living in areas not yet affected by the outbreak.  

Understanding the Ebola outbreak

Why this Ebola outbreak is especially urgent and challenging to control

However, these two vaccines are currently only approved against the most common virus responsible for Ebola disease — the Ebola (formerly known as Zaire) virus — not Bundibugyo.

Discussions are underway within the World Health Organization to determine which vaccine candidates can be tested in emergency clinical trials for the Bundibugyo virus, as was done in previous Ebola disease outbreaks. MSF is ready to contribute to this research, as we did in DRC in 2019. Those trials led to the approval and market release of the two vaccines [mentioned above] and treatments. 

Students wash their hands before going to class at Mwanga College in Goma. Handwashing is a part of Ebola virus prevention measures.

Is there a treatment for the Bundibugyo virus?

There is currently no approved treatment for Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus. The two monoclonal antibodies that were licensed following clinical studies conducted in DRC between 2018 and 2020 [showed monoclonal antibody treatments improved the chances of survival for people with the Ebola (also known as Zaire) virus, but not the Bundibugyo virus. 

That said, antiviral candidates and experimental monoclonal antibodies do exist [for Bundibugyo virus], though their efficacy has yet to be established.In the absence of a specific treatment, care relies primarily on symptom management (such as fever, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea) and intensive supportive therapy aimed at improving patients' chances of survival. This includes fluid replacement, oxygen support, and close blood and cardiac monitoring. During the two previous Ebola disease outbreaks caused by Bundibugyo virus, the estimated fatality rate was between 25 and 40 percent. [While still devastating, this is far lower than the fatality rate of the Ebola (formerly Zaire) virus without treatment.]

Teams load an MSF truck with emergency response supplies at the airport in Bunia, Ituri province. This shipment includes 3,000 items of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies for the Ebola disease response.

What detection tools are available?

An additional major obstacle in the response to this outbreak is the ability to rapidly diagnose those affected by the disease. PCR tests require virus-specific diagnostic kits. However, these are currently available in insufficient quantities for the Bundibugyo virus, which considerably slows down case confirmation and, as a result, the implementation of contact tracing and patient isolation.

What else can be done to limit the spread of the Bundibugyo virus?

In the absence of approved treatments and vaccines, the response rests on a combination of epidemiological and public health measures, including:  

Early isolation of suspected and confirmed cases  

Daily monitoring of contacts for 21 days with immediate quarantine at the onset of symptoms

Strict infection prevention and control protocols (e.g., hand hygiene, waste management, chlorinated water points, and PPE [personal protective equipment] for health care workers)

Safe and dignified burials to prevent transmission during funeral rituals

On-the-ground epidemiological work to understand how the virus is spreading  

It is also critical to ensure continued access to regular health care for people in affected areas.

But none of this is effective without sustained community engagement — informing people about what is happening and building trust. This is a far more difficult task in contexts like DRC, marked by insecurity and limited access to health care.

Ebola Fears Surge on the Ground in DR Congo Over Rapid Spread of a Rare Type

By JUSTIN KABUMBA and MONIKA PRONCZUK

9:45 PM EDT, May 20, 2026

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — Anxious healthcare workers in eastern Congo said Wednesday they are underprotected and undertrained in a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak of a rare type of the virus in one of the world’s most remote and vulnerable places.

Long the scene of attacks by an array of armed groups, the region’s volatility now further complicates efforts to handle the crisis. Local leaders said an attack by militants linked to the Islamic State group killed at least 17 people on Tuesday night in Alima village in Ituri, a province that has become the hot spot of the outbreak.

The World Health Organization, which noted a low risk globally, has said “patient zero” has not been found.

“It’s truly sad and painful because we’ve already been through a security crisis, and now Ebola is here too,” said Justin Ndasi, a Bunia resident,

Tons of health supplies have been airlifted to Bunia, where the first known death was announced last week, but residents said masks are harder to find and some disinfectants that previously sold for 2,500 Congolese francs (about $1) now cost four times more.

A mother watches her son ‘bleeding and vomiting’

At a treatment center in Rwampara, families cried and watched as healthcare workers in protective gear silently disinfected the bodies of their loved ones — suspected Ebola victims — and placed them into coffins for secure burial sites.

The disease struck suddenly, they said, describing a rapid deterioration after symptoms were mistaken for illnesses such as malaria.

“He told me his heart was hurting,” said Botwine Swanze, who lost her son. “Then he started crying because of the pain. ... Then he started bleeding and vomiting a lot.”

The Ebola virus is highly contagious and spreads in the human population through contact with bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and at times internal and external bleeding.

WHO chief says the ‘scale of the epidemic is much larger’

WHO has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, worried over its “scale and speed.” The WHO chief in Congo says it could last at least two months.

The rare type of Ebola, known as the Bundibugyo virus, spread undetected for weeks following the first known death while authorities tested for another, more common Ebola virus and came up negative.

Investigations continued into where and when the outbreak started, but “given the scale, we are thinking that it has started probably a couple of months ago,” said Anaïs Legand, with WHO’s emergencies program.

So far, 51 cases have been confirmed in Congo’s northern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, and two cases in Uganda, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday. There are 139 suspected deaths and almost 600 suspected cases.

But “the scale of the epidemic is much larger,” he said.

The London-based MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis estimated that cases have been substantially undercounted and that the actual number could already exceed 1,000. “The true magnitude remains uncertain,” it said.

This is Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak, and the WHO has said the country’s health ministry has experienced staff and capacity to respond. Most outbreaks, however, were of the more common Ebola type.

Any potential vaccine is months away

Dr. Vasee Moorthy, a special adviser at WHO, said a vaccine to address Bundibugyo would not be available for at least six to nine months.

Eastern Congo already faced “immense pressure from conflict, displacement and a collapsing health system,” said Dr. Lievin Bangali, senior health coordinator for the International Rescue Committee in Congo, adding that years of underfunding have weakened the response.

The outbreak highlights the effects of the Trump administration’s deep cuts in foreign aid. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the administration set a priority on funding 50 emergency clinics in affected areas. The U.S. pledged to contribute $23 million.

Anxiety grows with little protection in affected places

In Bunia, schools and churches remain open while some residents wear masks. Elsewhere in Ituri province, suspected Ebola patients share a ward with others injured or ill at Bambu General Hospital.

A Doctors Without Borders team identified suspected cases over the weekend at Bunia’s Salama hospital but found no available isolation ward in the area, said Trish Newport, an emergency program manager.

“Every health facility they called said, ‘We’re full of suspect cases. We don’t have any space.’ This gives you a vision of how crazy it is right now,” she said on social media.

In Mongbwalu, where the body of the first known death was taken, the nearby border with Uganda remains open and gold mining continues, said Chérubin Kuku Ndilawa, a civil society leader.

“There’s no panic. People continue with their normal lives, but they’re also starting to spread the word,” said Ndilawa, and noted a lack of public handwashing stations.

There were around 30 Ebola patients at Mongbwalu General Hospital, where a student from the local medical technology institute died on Wednesday, Dr. Didier Pay said.

“The patients are scattered here and there,” said Dr. Richard Lokudu, the hospital’s medical director. “We hope for the proper triage and isolation facilities to be installed today, and if that doesn’t happen, we will be completely overwhelmed.”

They are understaffed and not trained to handle suspected cases, Lokudu said, and added that if confirmed cases surge, “we have no protection.”

In the Ebola-affected city of Goma, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels are in control, the “situation is complicated,” said Dr. Anne Ancia, WHO’s representative in Congo.

An American with Ebola is in isolation in Germany

A U.S. national who tested positive in Congo arrived in Berlin on Wednesday and was in a special isolation ward where a “comprehensive examination” was underway, German Health Ministry spokesperson Martin Elsässer said.

Elsässer declined to comment on the condition of the patient, who has not been identified by German or U.S. authorities. The ministry later said, without elaborating, that it would take in the patient’s wife and three children at the request of U.S. authorities.

A top health official in the Czech Republic said they are receiving an American doctor who was treating Ebola patients in Uganda and who is without symptoms. It was not clear whether any were infected.

Dr. Satish Pillai, incident manager for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Ebola response, told reporters Wednesday that the Americans were being transported in coordination with the U.S. State Department and other agencies. One patient, who is in stable condition, is now being treated in Germany, Pillai said.

Asked whether the White House played a role in the decision to move the Americans to Europe, Pillai said the decision was based on conditions on the ground and the need to mobilize rapidly.

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Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten in Geneva; Jean Yves Kamale in Kinshasa, Congo; Wilson McMakin in Dakar, Senegal; Devi Shastri in Milwaukee; Karel Janicek in Prague and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.