Politician Beaten to Death After Radio Appearance on Ebola Outbreak

By Reuters

A senior official of the ruling Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been beaten to death after appearing on a radio programme to raise awareness about the country’s Ebola outbreak.

Marie-Celestin Karondwa, acting president of the UDPS federal executive committee in Butembo, one of the areas affected by the outbreak, was attacked on Sunday shortly after participating in the broadcast, according to a statement by the party’s federation in the city.

During the programme, Karondwa had promoted measures aimed at preventing the spread of the disease and urged residents to take the outbreak seriously.

The UDPS said his attackers beat him, stole his belongings and set his house on fire. He later died from injuries sustained in the assault.

The identity of the attackers, the number of people involved and the motive for the attack were not immediately established.

The party described Karondwa as “an innocent victim” for defending its position on the existence of Ebola and warning about the danger the disease poses to the population.

His death comes amid growing violence and hostility towards health workers, treatment centres and disease-response teams in parts of the DRC. Health experts have linked the attacks to misinformation, rumours and deep-seated distrust of health authorities and responders.

The violence has included attacks on healthcare facilities, riots, destruction of property and disruption of essential health services.

On Saturday, armed men reportedly attacked a hand-washing checkpoint in nearby Beni territory, killing at least one person and injuring several others, according to a local civil society organisation.

Ebola, first identified in 1976 in what is now the DRC, is a highly contagious viral disease that can be fatal. It spreads primarily through contact with infected body fluids or contaminated materials and can cause severe illness, including organ damage and bleeding.

The current outbreak is being attributed to the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which the source report says there is no approved treatment or vaccine. The outbreak was officially announced on May 15, with cases reported across seven provinces.

The DRC has experienced repeated Ebola outbreaks over the decades, including the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded, which began in 2018 and lasted nearly two years.

The current crisis is being compounded by conflict, disruptions to healthcare services, misinformation and attacks on health personnel and treatment facilities, according to health experts.

The World Health Organization has previously warned that the situation could become increasingly difficult to contain if violence and mistrust continue to hamper the disease response.