DRC Politician Beaten To Death Hours After Urging Public To Take Ebola Precautions
Politician Killed After Urging Public To Prevent Ebola
A senior member of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s ruling party was beaten to death after appearing on a radio programme to raise awareness about Ebola prevention, according to his party. Marie-Celestin Karondwa, acting president of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party’s federal executive committee in Butembo and a party spokesperson, was attacked on Sunday in the city, which has emerged as a major hotspot in the country’s ongoing Ebola outbreak.
According to the UDPS federation in Butembo, Karondwa had spoken on the radio about measures aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola. The party said he was subsequently attacked by residents of his neighbourhood. The attackers allegedly beat him, took his belongings and set his house on fire. Karondwa suffered serious injuries and later died, the party said. The circumstances surrounding the assault remain under investigation, and authorities have not publicly established who was responsible.
The motive for the attack was also not immediately clear. The UDPS described Karondwa as an “innocent victim” for defending the party’s position on the existence of Ebola and warning about the threat posed by the disease. The mayor of Butembo did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while details about the number of attackers and the circumstances leading up to the assault remained unclear. The available accounts establish that the attack followed his public discussion of Ebola prevention, but do not independently establish why the violence occurred.
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Karondwa’s death comes amid growing difficulties for health authorities trying to contain an Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo. Butembo and surrounding areas in North Kivu have experienced a sharp increase in infections, while health facilities and treatment centres have faced pressure from rising numbers of patients. Reuters reported that deep mistrust, misinformation and previous experiences during Ebola responses have complicated efforts to persuade residents to seek treatment and follow prevention measures.
The violence against Karondwa is part of a broader pattern of attacks and resistance affecting the Ebola response. Health workers, treatment facilities and prevention teams have faced hostility in parts of the region. On Saturday, armed men reportedly attacked a hand-washing checkpoint in nearby Beni territory, killing at least one person and injuring others, according to a local civil society group cited by Reuters. Such incidents can disrupt efforts to identify infections, trace contacts and encourage people to seek medical care.
The scale of the outbreak has added urgency to those efforts. Congo’s health ministry reported 8,067 infections and 3,901 deaths as of late September, according to Reuters, while the outbreak has spread across several provinces. The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus, a less common Ebola species for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. Health officials and international responders have stressed the importance of early detection, treatment and community cooperation, while acknowledging that mistrust remains a major obstacle.
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