Police Fire Warning Shots as Ebola Burial Protests Escalate in Eastern DR Congo

BBC – Police in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo fired warning shots after angry residents tried to recover the bodies of relatives who had died at an Ebola treatment centre in Mongwalu, according to local journalists. The unrest on Sunday followed an earlier overnight attack in which an isolation tent at the treatment facility was set on fire.

Health officials say the bodies of Ebola victims remain highly infectious and can spread the virus during traditional burial preparations. The current outbreak has recorded more than 900 suspected cases and 220 suspected deaths.

Dr Richard Lokudu, medical director of Mongwalu General Hospital, said protesters demanded that the bodies of two deceased people be released to their families. One of the victims was reportedly a respected Catholic shepherd and community religious leader.

Authorities placed the hospital on high alert as tensions escalated.Distrust of health authorities and doubts about Ebola diagnoses continue to fuel resistance in affected communities. Similar violence was reported on Thursday in Rwampara, about 85km southeast of Mongwalu, where crowds burned isolation tents after being stopped from taking away the body of a suspected Ebola victim for burial.

Red Cross volunteers, working under police protection, are conducting safe burials to limit the spread of the virus. The organisation says three of its volunteers have also died from suspected Ebola infections likely contracted while handling bodies.

The unrest comes as health ministers from DR Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan met with the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to strengthen cross-border coordination against the outbreak.

Uganda on Monday confirmed two additional Ebola cases involving health workers, bringing the country’s total to seven infections and one death. Health authorities said the patients are receiving treatment while contacts are being traced.

Africa CDC has warned that several African countries, including Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Zambia, remain at risk of the outbreak spreading.

Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said African leaders are meeting to discuss strategies for reducing transmission, improving case management, avoiding resource wastage, and ensuring victims receive dignified funerals.

He also revealed that DR Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan had agreed on a $319 million response plan, with only 10% of the funding secured so far.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged an initial $5 million contribution, describing it as a sign of solidarity and confidence in Africa CDC. He urged African nations and the international community to support the response, warning that delayed action would lead to greater human, social, and economic costs.

Last week, the World Health Organization said it could take up to nine months for a vaccine to become available.

The outbreak has affected Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces in eastern DR Congo, areas also facing insecurity due to clashes between government forces and the M23 rebel group, further complicating efforts to contain the virus.