DR Congo Politician Beaten to Death After Ebola Awareness Broadcast
A senior member of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s ruling party has been beaten to death after taking part in a radio programme urging residents to follow measures to prevent the spread of Ebola, his party said.
Marie-Célestin Karondwa, acting president of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) federal executive committee in Butembo, North Kivu province, was attacked on Sunday after appearing on Radio Mwangaza, according to the party and Congolese state news agency ACP.
The UDPS said residents from Karondwa’s neighbourhood attacked him, looted his belongings and set his house on fire. He later died from injuries sustained in the assault.
The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the identities of those responsible and their precise motive, remain unclear. The party said Karondwa was targeted for supporting public-health measures and acknowledging the existence and threat of Ebola. It has called for an investigation and the prosecution of those responsible.
His death comes amid growing tensions surrounding Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak, particularly in North Kivu, where misinformation and mistrust have complicated efforts to contain the disease. Health workers and Ebola response facilities have also faced attacks.
On Saturday, armed men reportedly attacked a hand-washing checkpoint in nearby Beni territory, killing at least one person and wounding several others, according to a local civil society group.
The outbreak, declared on May 15, has recorded 8,067 cases and 3,901 deaths, according to government figures released on Monday. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.
