DR Congo: Angry Mob Burns Ebola Isolation Tents After Victim’s Death

Tension erupted in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after an angry crowd attacked a hospital treating Ebola patients and set fire to isolation tents following the death of a young man suspected to have died from the virus.

The incident occurred at Rwampara General Hospital near Bunia in Ituri Province, the epicentre of the latest Ebola outbreak that has already claimed more than 130 lives in the region.

According to local authorities and witnesses, the unrest began after family members and supporters of the deceased attempted to remove his body from the hospital for burial but were prevented by health officials enforcing Ebola safety protocols.

Bodies of Ebola victims are considered highly infectious, prompting authorities to insist on controlled and medically supervised burials to prevent further spread of the deadly virus.

A local politician, Luc Malembe Malembe, who witnessed the incident, said the crowd became violent after hospital officials refused to release the body.

“They started throwing projectiles at the hospital. They even set fire to tents that were being used as isolation wards,” Malembe told journalists.

Malembe noted that many people in remote communities still believe Ebola is fabricated by outsiders and international organisations for financial gain.

“People are not properly informed or sensitised about what is happening. For a certain segment of the population, especially in remote areas, Ebola is an invention by outsiders, it does not exist,” he stated.

“They believe it is the NGOs and hospitals creating this to make money and this is tragic.”

As the situation escalated, police officers reportedly fired warning shots into the air in an attempt to disperse the crowd and restore calm around the medical facility.

Hospital workers said at least one healthcare worker sustained injuries after being struck by stones thrown by protesters before security forces intervened.

Witnesses identified the deceased as a popular footballer who had reportedly played for several local teams in the area. His death triggered emotional reactions from residents and friends who questioned the hospital’s claim that he died of Ebola.

The victim’s mother reportedly insisted that her son died from typhoid fever and not Ebola, reflecting widespread distrust and misinformation surrounding the outbreak.

Jean Claude Mukendi, who coordinates the security response to Ebola in Ituri Province, said many residents still struggle to understand the severity and reality of the disease.

According to him, emotions surrounding the victim’s popularity contributed significantly to the violent reaction.

“Those upset by his death did not grasp the reality of the disease,” Mukendi said.

The violence resulted in the destruction of at least two hospital tents, including one that reportedly contained a body awaiting burial.

The latest unrest underscores the growing challenges facing health officials and humanitarian agencies as they battle both the spread of Ebola and deep-rooted public distrust in affected communities.

Authorities in DR Congo have repeatedly warned that misinformation, insecurity and attacks on health workers remain major obstacles to containing the outbreak in eastern parts of the country.

Authorities subsequently placed medical personnel at the hospital under military protection amid fears of further attacks.