Brief
Politician in DRC killed after Ebola‑awareness radio interview
Marie‑Celestin Karondwa, acting president of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, died after attackers struck him in Butembo following a radio interview on Ebola.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Marie‑Celestin Karondwa, the acting president of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, was beaten to death in Butembo, North Kivu, after a radio interview in which he promoted Ebola‑prevention measures. The party said attackers struck him, stole his belongings and set his house on fire, and he later died of his injuries in hospital.
Karondwa’s death follows a series of violent attacks on health workers in the DRC, where the Ebola outbreak has infected 8,067 people and killed 3,901, according to government data released on Monday. The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak is the largest and deadliest in the country’s history, and that a shortage of health workers is hampering containment.
Local groups reported that a hand‑washing checkpoint was stormed by armed men on Saturday, killing at least one person and wounding several others. The motive behind Karondwa’s attack remains unclear, and the attackers have not yet been identified, though they are believed to be residents of his neighbourhood.
Karondwa was described by a party representative as “an innocent victim for having defended the party’s position on the existence of the Ebola virus disease and the threat it poses to the population.” The incident highlights the growing hostility toward health workers amid widespread misinformation about the disease.
Key facts
- Marie‑Celestin Karondwa was beaten to death in Butembo after a radio interview on Ebola (independent.co.uk)
- Attackers struck him, stole his belongings and set his house on fire (independent.co.uk)
- Karondwa died of injuries in hospital (independent.co.uk)
- Ebola outbreak in DRC has infected 8,067 people and killed 3,901 (independent.co.uk)
- At least 50 health workers have died since the outbreak began on 15 May (independent.co.uk)
Background
The Democratic Republic of Congo has experienced a surge in violence against health workers during its current Ebola outbreak, the second‑largest in history. The Union for Democracy and Social Progress, of which Karondwa was acting president, has called the attack an act of intimidation against those promoting public health measures.
Timeline
- 2026-09-29 — Karondwa beaten to death after radio interview
- 2026-09-28 — UAE lifts Ebola visa ban for Ugandan nationals
- 2026-09-17 — Judy Markey dies after assisted suicide in Switzerland
Why it matters
The killing underscores the danger faced by health workers and political figures who advocate for disease control during the DRC’s severe Ebola outbreak.
What happens next
Authorities have not yet identified the attackers; the DRC government and WHO are monitoring the situation closely.
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Politician beaten to death after radio interview promoting Ebola awareness”
