DR Congo politician beaten to death after speaking about Ebola on air

A politician in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reportedly died after being attacked following a radio appearance about the country’s Ebola outbreak.

According to Nigerian Tribune, Marie-Celestin Karondwa, acting president of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress federal executive committee in Butembo, was attacked by residents of his neighbourhood on Sunday.

Karondwa had appeared on radio to promote measures aimed at preventing Ebola’s spread. His party said he was beaten, robbed and his house was later set ablaze. He subsequently died from injuries sustained in the attack.

The party described Karondwa 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.”

Authorities have not established who carried out the attack or the motive.

His death comes amid attacks on Ebola response teams and health facilities, as misinformation and mistrust continue to complicate efforts to contain the outbreak.

Government figures showed 8,067 infections and 3,901 deaths.