Attack reported after radio appearance
Marie-Celestin Karondwa, the acting president of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party’s federal executive committee in Butembo, was beaten to death on Sunday after participating in a radio programme, the UDPS federation in the city said. According to the party statement, Karondwa had been promoting measures to prevent the spread of Ebola during the broadcast.
The UDPS federation described the attack in a statement, and the killing was reported by Reuters. The party said Karondwa was a senior member of the ruling party and that he was assaulted after leaving the radio studio.
Local outbreak context
Butembo has been identified as a new hotspot in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak, and public messaging on prevention measures has been a focus of local authorities and civil society groups. The party’s account links Karondwa’s radio appearance to the assault, though details about the assailants and the motives behind the attack have not been publicly confirmed by independent authorities in reports so far.
Reactions and implications
The killing of a political figure following a public awareness effort is likely to raise concern about the security environment for officials and community members engaged in outbreak response work. The UDPS federation’s statement brought the incident to public attention, and international and local observers will be watching for any official investigations or further developments.
Ongoing situation
Reporting on the incident cited by the UDPS and Reuters did not include immediate comment from local law enforcement or health authorities. Further information is expected as authorities and the party provide updates and as any formal inquiries proceed.