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

Congo banned public gatherings in provinces far from the Ebola outbreak, including Kinshasa and Tshopo, as opposition groups claim the move suppresses dissent. The ban coincides with an escalating Ebola outbreak, with 1,307 infections and 377 deaths reported in eastern provinces. Political groups and civil society have criticized the restrictions as unconstitutional, while the president announced a $319 million response plan.