A senior official of the ruling party in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been beaten to death after appearing on a radio programme to raise awareness about the country’s Ebola outbreak.

The victim, Marie-Célestin Karondwa, was the acting president of the federal executive committee of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) in Butembo, North Kivu Province. He was attacked after participating in a broadcast during which he promoted measures to prevent the spread of Ebola.

Attackers Looted, Burned His Home

According to the UDPS federation in Butembo, unidentified individuals broke into Karondwa’s home after his radio appearance.

The attackers allegedly beat him, stole property from the residence and set the premises on fire. Karondwa later died from injuries sustained during the assault.

The party said it had not established the identities or number of people involved in the attack, and the motive has not been independently established.

The UDPS described Karondwa as an “innocent victim” because he had publicly supported the party’s position on the existence of Ebola and the threat posed by the disease.

Violence Amid Ebola Outbreak

The incident comes amid an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC, with reports of attacks and disruption affecting health workers and facilities in some affected communities.

Separately, Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention placed the country on high alert on September 23 because of the Ebola outbreak in the DRC. The agency said it was strengthening surveillance and preparedness measures in response to the evolving public-health situation.

Authorities and local organisations continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Karondwa’s death, while the identities of those responsible for the attack remain unknown.