DRC: Political official killed in Butembo after call to fight Ebola

Karondwa Mwanaweka Marie-Célestin Bytaty, interim president of the UDPS federal executive committee and spokesperson for the presidential party, was killed in Butembo, in the North Kivu province. According to BBC Afrique, this political official was fatally attacked shortly after participating in a broadcast on a local radio station, where he urged residents to support public health efforts in the face of the Ebola epidemic.

The ruling party denounced the tragedy, specifying that the victim's home was set on fire and his belongings destroyed. The local UDPS federation has officially demanded the opening of an investigation to bring the perpetrators of this act to justice. This attack takes place in a climate of intense tension in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where health teams are facing numerous security challenges.

Attacks against healthcare personnel and medical facilities have multiplied in recent months. In Vulemba, a screening agent was killed during an attack on a checkpoint. At the same time, treatment centers have been set on fire, notably in Rwampara and Bafwabango, often in connection with conflicts over funeral rites. The Red Cross has also reported several violent assaults against its volunteers deployed in the field.

The persistence of this violence is fueled by deep mistrust within communities, exacerbated by decades of conflict and misinformation. According to experts, a portion of the population perceives Ebola as a spiritual phenomenon or an invention. Dr. Wessam Mankoula, from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, emphasizes that misinformation hinders the care of patients and weakens the health response.

Our perspective

The tragic death of this official highlights the vulnerability of local actors in the face of misinformation and the trauma inherited from regional instability. For Africans, health sovereignty requires not only medical resources, but also a dialogue of trust based on dignity and respect for community realities, in order to protect citizens against epidemic crises.