DRC Responds To US-Kenya Quarantine Deal Amidst Backlash
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has defended its ability to handle Ebola outbreaks in the face of rising controversy over a proposed US quarantine agreement in Kenya.
The US move in Kenya has sparked legal action, public outrage, and political opposition.
During a BBC Focus on Africa interview, Government Spokesperson and Information Minister Patrick Muyaya stated that the DRC has been cooperating with US authorities since the outbreak began.
Muyaya appeared to argue for the facility to be established in the Central African country instead.
I asked DR Congo’s Government Spokesperson and Information Minister, Patrick Muyaya, on #FocusOnAfrica on what he makes of the US plan to setup a quarantine facility for Americans in Kenya and whether DRC would agree to such an arrangement. pic.twitter.com/LlHc8l9nN4— Waihiga Mwaura (@WaihigaMwaura) May 29, 2026
Muyaya argued that the country has extensive expertise with Ebola outbreaks, noting prior successful containment measures.
“We have been talking with the U.S. government since the beginning of the outbreak, and some of the specialists here are already working with the U.S. government,” Muyaya said.
“I need to remind the world that DRC has experience and expertise on this epidemic. The last time we had an outbreak in Kasai, we finished it in 6 weeks,” he added.
His remarks come as the United States faces scrutiny and uproar from a section of Kenyans over reports of plans to establish an Ebola quarantine and monitoring facility for American citizens in Kenya.
The High Court in Nairobi on Friday temporarily suspended the project, issuing conservatory orders that bar the establishment of any Ebola exposure, isolation, or treatment facility linked to the arrangement.
The court ruling followed an urgent petition filed by the Katiba Institute, which raised concerns over constitutional, public health, and national security implications of hosting such a facility in Kenya.
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In response to the legal challenge, the U.S. government said it was aware of the court proceedings and was engaging Kenyan authorities to address the concerns raised over the plan.
We are aware of the court action filed in Kenya against the Ebola isolation facility. We are in touch with Kenyan authorities and are optimistic we can resolve objections.— USForeignAssist (@USForeignAssist) May 29, 2026
Meanwhile, reports emerged that the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps was preparing to deploy a specialised Ebola response team to Kenya to support monitoring and care of American citizens returning from the DRC.We are aware of the court action filed in Kenya against the Ebola isolation facility. We are in touch with Kenyan authorities and are optimistic we can resolve objections.— USForeignAssist (@USForeignAssist) May 29, 2026
The announcement has intensified public debate, with lawmakers from Laikipia County rejecting the proposal and questioning the choice of location, saying they were not consulted.
Fatality rate among confirmed cases in current outbreak of Bundibugyo ebola strain in eastern DRC is between 30 and 50 percent, officials say
Prosper Heri Ngorora reports pic.twitter.com/ovLlGWIw5l— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) May 30, 2026
They also urged that Ebola management should instead focus on containment at the source of the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo rather than setting up facilities in Kenya.
As legal proceedings continue, the High Court’s suspension remains in force, even as some media reports on Friday evening suggested that a U.S. Globemaster cargo plane had arrived in the country carrying Ebola equipment.
DRC Responds To US-Kenya Quarantine Deal Amidst Backlash
