Kenya Protests Saudi Arabia Ebola Travel Ban
Kenya is seeking the removal of Saudi Arabian travel restrictions imposed after a small Ebola cluster, arguing the measures are excessive and unsupported by data.
The Government of Saudi Arabia suspended all travel and visa issuance for Kenyan citizens on October 30, 2026, as a precautionary measure against the Ebola virus. The restrictions prohibit Saudi citizens from traveling to Kenya and bar entry to anyone who visited Kenya or other Ebola-affected regions within 21 days prior to arrival. These measures mirror previous restrictions Saudi Arabia placed on Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in June 2026.
Kenya has formally protested the ban, with Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale describing the restrictions as excessive. The Ministry of Health of Kenya reports that the outbreak is confined to a single cluster of eight confirmed cases—including four health workers and four family members—linked to the DRC. Officials state that two people died and no new cases have been recorded since October 19. The ministry further noted that all 135 contacts of the index case were traced, with 118 placed under quarantine.
While the Saudi Public Health Authority, Weqaya, maintains that the measures are based on epidemiological assessments to protect the Kingdom's health situation, Kenya argues there is no evidence of community transmission. The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs is currently pursuing diplomatic engagement to lift the ban, which threatens business ties and the travel of Muslim pilgrims for Hajj and Umrah.
