Congo bans gatherings in areas far from Ebola outbreak. Some say it limits dissent

Congo has banned public gatherings in several provinces, including the capital Kinshasa, citing Ebola outbreak concerns, but opposition groups claim the move suppresses dissent. The ban affects areas with no confirmed Ebola cases, as the outbreak continues to spread in eastern Congo with 1,307 infections and 377 deaths. Political opposition and civil society organizations argue the restrictions violate constitutional rights to free speech and assembly.