Rwanda, DR Congo partially reopen border crossing

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Rwandan authorities Thursday reopened border crossing linking the country to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s city of Goma to ease small cross border business, for the first time since March, when it was closed as part of measures against the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The reopening is in line with a memorandum of understanding reached Monday between Rwanda’s Western Province and DR Congo’s North Kivu province.

Under the deal signed by Alphonse Munyantwari, the governor of Rwanda’s Western Province and his North Kivu province counterpart Carly Nzanzu Kasivita, the parties agreed to allow controlled movement to enhance small scale cross border business, as well as essential workers such as teachers, medics, and students.

Speaking to reporters, Munyantwari explained that movement is allowed for passport holders and those with temporary travel permit, unlike previously when people also used national IDs to cross.

Travelers follow health protocols, including rapid tests for COVID-19 before being allowed to proceed to their destinations in a bid to prevent the virus's spread, he said.

Stressing that trade across the border had come to a standstill for the past eight months, Munyantwari said their meeting also agreed to set up a joint mechanism for sharing information on the sustained fight against COVID-19 as well as joint struggle against illegal cross-border trade.

Rwanda’s land borders remain closed since the March lockdown except for goods and cargo as well as returning citizens and legal residents.