Thousands of travellers and traders have been left stranded after Rwanda suddenly closed its busy border crossing with Goma, as fears grow over the Ebola outbreak spreading across the region.

Cbinews.tv reports that Rwanda has shut its border crossing with Goma in eastern DR Congo following heightened Ebola concerns in the region.

Eyewitnesses say movement between Goma and Gisenyi was blocked from Sunday morning, leaving travellers stranded and disrupting one of the busiest cross-border routes in the Great Lakes region.

Although neither the Rwandan government nor the M23 rebels controlling Goma have officially commented, locals confirmed that no one has been allowed to cross in either direction since the closure began.

An IT services officer in Goma told MediaCongo that Rwandan authorities stopped all entry into the country early Sunday, effectively sealing the border.

The development comes shortly after the World Health Organization classified the Ebola outbreak affecting parts of DR Congo and Uganda as a global public health emergency.

Many observers believe Rwanda’s move is a precautionary step to reduce the risk of the virus spreading through the heavy daily traffic between Goma and Gisenyi.

The border route is a major link for trade, work and family connections, meaning the closure could have a significant impact on local businesses and residents who rely on daily movement across both cities.

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