DR Congo Ruling Party Official Beaten to Death After Ebola Radio ProgrammeA senior official of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s ruling party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), has been beaten to death after appearing on a radio programme to raise awareness about the ongoing Ebola outbreak.The incident occurred on Sunday in Butembo, North Kivu Province, which has emerged as one of the hotspots of the outbreak.The victim, Marie-Celestin Karondwa, was the acting president of the UDPS federal executive committee in Butembo and a spokesperson for the party.According to the UDPS federation, Karondwa was attacked by residents of his neighbourhood after participating in a radio programme during which he promoted measures to prevent the spread of Ebola. The attackers reportedly beat him, looted his belongings and set his house on fire.
The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the identities and number of the attackers and their precise motive, remained unclear.Karondwa later died from injuries sustained during the assault, according to his party. The UDPS described him as an innocent victim who had spoken publicly about the existence of Ebola and the threat it posed to the population.The killing comes amid growing mistrust and resistance to Ebola prevention measures in parts of eastern DR Congo, where health workers and response teams have also faced attacks.The World Health Organisation reported that the outbreak had spread across seven provinces by September 23, with 7,890 confirmed cases and 3,799 deaths.
Joseph Akwagiobe is a media contributor from Cross River State, Nigeria, currently based in Abuja. He is a graduate of Microbiology and has earned several professional certifications across diverse fields, reflecting his commitment to continuous learning, professional growth, and excellence.