Congo Ruling Party Official Marie-Celestin Karondwa Beaten to Death After Ebola Radio Broadcast in Butembo
On Sunday, Marie-Celestin Karondwa, the acting president of the UDPS party's federal executive committee in Butembo and a spokesperson for the party, was brutally killed after participating in a radio program that advocated for Ebola prevention strategies, as stated by the UDPS federation in Butembo on Monday. This incident took place in Butembo, located in North Kivu province, a region currently facing a significant Ebola outbreak. The party reported that Karondwa was assaulted, his possessions were stolen, and his home was set ablaze. The identity of the attackers, their numbers, and the motives behind the assault remain unknown. The UDPS characterized Karondwa as an innocent victim for promoting awareness of the Ebola virus and its dangers to the community. His murder adds to a troubling trend of violence against Ebola response teams, with the outbreak resulting in at least 3,901 fatalities.
Key facts
- Marie-Celestin Karondwa was acting president of the UDPS party's federal executive committee in Butembo and a party spokesperson
- He was beaten to death on Sunday after taking part in a radio programme to raise awareness about the Ebola outbreak
- The attack took place in Butembo, North Kivu province, a recent hotspot in the ongoing Ebola outbreak
- Attackers beat Karondwa, looted his belongings and set his house on fire, according to the UDPS federation in Butembo
- It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack, how many were involved, or what motivated it
- The UDPS said Karondwa was 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 killing is the latest in a series of attacks on Ebola response teams
- The outbreak has left at least 3,901 dead
Entities
Artists
- Marie-Celestin Karondwa
Institutions
- UDPS
- UDPS federation in Butembo
Locations
- Butembo
- North Kivu
- Congo