During a recent mission to Bunia, Ituri province, Patrick Muyaya, the government spokesperson and Minister of Communication and Media, urged for an unbiased assessment of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s efforts in combating the Ebola virus disease. The epidemic continues to affect the eastern provinces of Ituri, Nord-Kivu, and Sud-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 certain non-governmental organizations involved in the health response. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transparency and openness to constructive feedback, while emphasizing that the substantial work undertaken on the ground merits recognition. Although acknowledging persistent challenges, he stressed the importance of avoiding alarmist narratives.

“I prefer not to name the NGOs that are critical. We are, by all accounts, operating transparently. You observed the various speakers earlier; no one was instructed 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 allocated its own resources to the response before receiving international assistance. He also clarified the nature of international funding, particularly funds announced by foreign partners.

“The government did not wait for partners. We have currently contributed 50 million USD from government funds because it is crucial for us to lead by example. All the international funding you hear about, from the American government and other partners, is not directly provided to our government. These funds are channeled to NGOs,” he explained during his address.

The Minister called upon all stakeholders engaged in the response to prioritize collective responsibility, suggesting that some criticisms might not accurately reflect the realities on the ground.

“We are all united by a common goal: to end this epidemic. However, it is another matter for those who believe they can leverage this epidemic to solicit additional resources. There are alternative mechanisms for advocacy,” he noted in his intervention.

He appealed to the concerned organizations for greater discretion in their public statements: “To minimize the sacrifices of those actively involved is to diminish their efforts. 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 polemics.

“I choose to remain focused on the facts,” he asserted, before detailing the indicators he considers vital for evaluating the response. “I prefer to examine the number of tests conducted in a month, count the treatment centers established in a month, review the community relays deployed, assess the samples analyzed daily, and track the number of individuals who have recovered,” he added.

The Minister emphasized that the effectiveness of the response must be judged by concrete actions implemented on the ground. “That is what matters to me. Rumors and attempts by individuals to gain undue credit do not concern me,” he continued. Roger Samuel Kamba believes a definitive assessment can be made once the health crisis concludes: “When this epidemic is over, everyone will be able to reflect on the work accomplished and draw their own conclusions.”

On May 17, 2026, merely 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 and spreading from the DRC to Uganda, as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

According to the WHO, the epidemic has demonstrated significant geographical expansion, and its true scale may be underestimated. This challenging situation is exacerbated by high population mobility, fragile health systems, inadequate health infrastructure, and difficulties accessing certain conflict-affected areas. Adding to these concerns is the current absence of an approved vaccine and specific treatment for the Bundibugyo virus. Despite this alarming context, Congolese authorities maintain an optimistic outlook, drawing upon their extensive experience in successfully managing sixteen previous Ebola outbreaks.