A senior member of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s ruling party has died after being beaten by residents of his neighbourhood shortly after appearing on a radio programme to raise awareness about Ebola, according to his party.
Marie Celestin Karondwa, acting president of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) federal executive committee in Butembo and a party spokesperson, was attacked on Sunday in Butembo, North Kivu province.
According to the UDPS federation in Butembo, Karondwa had appeared on a radio programme where he promoted measures to prevent the spread of Ebola, an outbreak that has recently intensified in parts of North Kivu.
The party said Karondwa was attacked by people from his neighbourhood after the broadcast. The attackers allegedly beat him, stole his belongings and set his house on fire.
Karondwa later died from injuries sustained during the attack, the party said.
The circumstances surrounding the attack remain unclear. It was not immediately established who carried out the assault, how many people were involved or what specifically triggered the violence.
The UDPS said Karondwa was an “innocent victim” for supporting the party’s position on the existence of Ebola and warning residents about the threat posed by the disease.
The mayor of Butembo had not immediately responded to requests for comment.
The incident adds to growing concerns over security for Ebola response workers and health awareness teams in the region, where mistrust and resistance have complicated efforts to contain the outbreak.
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.
The Ebola outbreak was declared on May 15. Government figures released on Monday showed that 8,067 people have been infected and 3,901 have died since the outbreak began.
Health authorities and response teams continue to face the challenge of containing the disease while dealing with insecurity and public mistrust in affected communities.
