Rubavu and Goma border crossings

The two crossings

The La Corniche border post is commonly called Grande Barriere. It links Rubavu District in Rwanda with Goma in eastern DR Congo ¹. A second crossing, La Petite Barriere, links Rubavu District with Goma town ³.

In 2014 the New Times reported that most people crossing were informal traders and that agricultural produce and livestock were the main goods traded informally ¹. Rubavu district officials told KT Press in 2019 that 4,000 to 5,000 people crossed each day ². The New Times reported on 30 June 2025 that Rubavu and Goma border trade had reached about 50,000 daily crossings, citing the Ministry of Trade and Industry ³.

Grande Barriere one-stop border post

Construction of the Rubavu and Goma one-stop border post began with a groundbreaking on 15 December 2014 ¹. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation funded the works at a cost of US$9 million. The Rwandan government agreed to cover taxes and expropriation costs, estimated at US$1.7 million ¹. The Rwanda Transport Development Agency led the works, and the Ministry of Infrastructure gave an expected build time of 18 months ¹.

In October 2019 KT Press reported that the post had a main building, passenger and cargo areas, warehouses and parking for transit trucks. Rwanda and DR Congo were then discussing how to start joint operations ². The sources opened for this page do not give a date when joint one-stop operations began.

Petite Barriere and the Goma side

A World Bank Independent Evaluation Group review of the Great Lakes Region Trade Facilitation project lists a one-stop border post at Petite Barriere on the Goma side as 40 percent complete at project close. The remaining works moved to a follow-on World Bank project, the Great Lakes Trade Facilitation and Integration Project ⁷. The project closed on 30 June 2024 ⁷.

In 2016 COMESA reported that a Trade Information Desk was already running at Rubavu and another at Goma. Desk officers help small traders use the COMESA Simplified Trade Regime and work with immigration, customs and security officials ⁸.

Opening hours after M23 took Goma

The M23 armed group has controlled Goma since January 2025, as reported by Africanews ⁴. In September 2025 Africanews reported that the AFC/M23 administration in Goma extended hours at Grande Barriere to 6 am until midnight. Under Kinshasa's authority the hours had been 6 am to 3 pm ⁴. These hours were set on the DR Congo side. The sources opened for this page do not state hours set by Rwandan authorities.

Goma International Airport has stayed closed since the rebels took the city. Africanews reported that the route through Rwanda became the main alternative for many travellers ⁴.

Ebola closure in May 2026

On 17 May 2026 Rwandan authorities suspended operations at border crossings in Rubavu District over concern that the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo had reached Goma ⁵. Umunota reported the same suspension at the Rubavu and Goma border ⁶. On 18 May 2026 the Ministry of Health said no Ebola case had been detected in Rwanda ⁵.

KT Press reported that at the Rusizi posts some movement continued under health screening for students, humanitarian workers, food transporters and returning residents ⁵. Suspected cases can be reported on the Ministry of Health toll-free number 114 ⁵.

A Ministry of Health notice dated 22 May 2026 reinforced health screening at land entry points along the DR Congo border. It denied entry to foreign nationals who had been in DR Congo in the 30 days before travel. Rwandan nationals and foreign residents with proof of residency who had been in DR Congo in that period face mandatory quarantine ¹⁰. The notice gives no end date ¹⁰. A Ministry of Health update of 16 June 2026 said there were no cases in Rwanda and no active cases in areas bordering Rwanda ¹¹. Neither page mentions a border reopening ^10,11.

Status: suspended from 17 May 2026 ^5,6. This page could not confirm a reopening date from a source that meets the site's rules. Travellers should check with Rwandan authorities before travel.

Customs for small traders

The Rwanda Revenue Authority runs a Customs Mobile Declaration for goods valued below RWF 500,000. Traders register at the nearest customs office and receive payment details by SMS ⁹.