DR Congo politician beaten to death over Ebola awareness campaign

A senior official of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s ruling party has been beaten to death after he took part in a radio programme to promote awareness about the country’s Ebola outbreak.

Marie-Celestin Karondwa, acting president of the UDPS federal executive committee in Butembo, North Kivu Province, was attacked on Sunday by residents of his neighbourhood shortly after appearing on a radio show focused on Ebola prevention.

The UDPS federation in Butembo, in a statement on Monday, said Karondwa was assaulted, his belongings were stolen and his home was set on fire during the attack.

The party said he was targeted because of his support for public health messaging on Ebola and his efforts to educate residents about the virus.

The party added that Karondwa later died from injuries sustained during the attack.

The circumstances surrounding the attack remain unclear, with authorities yet to identify the perpetrators or establish the motive behind the killing.

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The incident has heightened concerns over public resistance to Ebola response efforts in eastern Congo, where health workers and community teams have faced attacks while trying to contain the outbreak.

On Saturday, armed men were said to have attacked a hand-washing station in nearby Beni territory, killing one person and injuring others.

Health officials have continued efforts to raise awareness and strengthen preventive measures as the outbreak spreads.

The Congolese government’s latest data showed that the Ebola outbreak, declared on May 15, has so far recorded 8,067 confirmed cases and 3,901 deaths.

The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, has surpassed previous outbreaks in the country to become the largest and deadliest in Congo’s history.