A politician from the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s ruling party has died after a brutal attack that his party has linked to his public support for measures aimed at combating Ebola.
Marie-Celestin Karondwa, a spokesperson for the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) in the eastern city of Butembo, was reportedly assaulted on Sunday before later dying from his injuries. His property was also looted and his home set ablaze.
The UDPS described Karondwa as an “innocent victim” who had publicly defended the party’s position that Ebola was real and posed a serious danger to the population.
The precise motive for the killing has not been established, although the UDPS believes the attack was connected to Karondwa’s outspoken backing of the Ebola response. The party has demanded an investigation and called for those responsible to face justice.
His death comes amid growing difficulties confronting efforts to control the disease in eastern DR Congo, where insecurity, violence and public resistance have disrupted the work of health teams. Attacks on medical facilities have restricted access to affected communities, interfered with surveillance and discouraged some people from seeking treatment.
The World Health Organization recorded 12 attacks on healthcare between the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern on May 17 and mid-August, with further incidents still being examined. Previous Ebola outbreaks in the region have also been complicated by hostility towards health workers and disease-control programmes.
Conflict and large-scale displacement are adding to the crisis, making contact tracing, surveillance and access to medical care increasingly difficult.
By September 27, DR Congo had recorded 8,116 confirmed Ebola cases and 3,924 deaths, according to the country’s National Institute of Public Health, representing a case fatality rate of 48.3%.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus. There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for that strain, although experimental vaccines and treatments are under investigation.
In Butembo, politician Marie-Célestin Karondwa died after an attack following a radio appearance about Ebola prevention, according to a party statement reported by Reuters. His party links the attack to his remarks, but the motive remains unclear.
Why do people in eastern DR… pic.twitter.com/DsK9V8a733
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