Protesters Attack Ebola Treatment Centre in DR Congo Over Burial Dispute

Protesters in eastern DR Congo’s Ituri province attacked an Ebola treatment centre at Rwampara Hospital, setting fire to tents after demanding the bodies of relatives they believed did not die of Ebola. Security forces used tear gas and warning shots after the hospital refused to release the bodies under strict burial protocols. The outbreak, declared on May 15, has spread across eastern Congo and into neighbouring Uganda, with hundreds of suspected cases and over a hundred probable deaths. Health authorities and the WHO continue containment efforts while urging public compliance with preventive measures.

Angry protesters on Thursday attacked and set fire to tents at an Ebola treatment center in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province, in a violent attempt to recover the bodies of relatives who had died from the disease, according to a local official.
The incident took place at Rwampara Hospital, located on the outskirts of Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri. The situation escalated after families of suspected Ebola victims gathered at the facility demanding the release of the bodies of their loved ones for burial. Many of the protesters rejected official medical reports indicating that the deceased had tested positive for Ebola, insisting instead that the deaths were due to other causes. The disagreement quickly heightened tensions at the health facility.
Speaking about the incident, local official Luc Malembe said the crowd became increasingly agitated when hospital authorities refused to release the bodies. He explained that the refusal was in line with strict Ebola safety protocols, which require the safe handling and burial of infected bodies to prevent further transmission of the virus. However, the families viewed the decision with suspicion and frustration.
According to Malembe, “Crowds gathered outside the hospital, and when they were denied the bodies of their relatives, they set fire to several tents sheltering Ebola patients, prompting police to fire tear gas and warning shots.” Security forces were deployed in an attempt to disperse the crowd and prevent the violence from spreading further within the hospital grounds.
The attack caused panic among patients, health workers, and nearby residents, further disrupting already fragile medical response efforts in the region. Emergency teams were forced to prioritize evacuation and containment measures while trying to protect both patients and medical staff.
Malembe also called for stronger and more sustained community awareness campaigns, stressing the need to educate the population on how Ebola is transmitted and why strict burial and treatment protocols are necessary. He noted that the region is already dealing with significant insecurity and mistrust, which complicates public health interventions and increases resistance to medical guidance.
This latest violence is reminiscent of earlier outbreaks in the region. In 2020, several health facilities in eastern Congo were attacked by armed groups and angry civilians during Ebola outbreaks, largely driven by fear, misinformation, and distrust of health workers. Similar incidents were also reported during the 2018 Ebola outbreak in the region, when some communities resisted medical teams and treatment centers, believing conspiracy theories or doubting the existence of the disease.
The current outbreak was officially declared on May 15 in eastern Congo’s Ituri province. Since the declaration, Congolese health authorities, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), have reported approximately 600 suspected cases and 139 probable deaths. These figures reflect both confirmed medical cases and those strongly suspected based on symptoms and epidemiological tracking.
Health officials warn that the outbreak has not remained confined to its initial location. It has since spread from Ituri into North Kivu and later into South Kivu, raising concerns about wider regional transmission. In addition, two imported cases involving Congolese nationals have been reported in neighboring Uganda, highlighting the risk of cross-border spread in the region.
International and continental health bodies have intensified their response efforts. The Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Jean Kaseya, urged residents on Thursday to strictly observe preventive measures such as avoiding contact with infected individuals, reporting symptoms early, and adhering to safe burial practices.
Speaking in Bunia during his visit, Kaseya reaffirmed the commitment of African and international partners to support efforts to contain the outbreak. He emphasized that response teams are already on the ground and that additional support and expertise would be deployed to strengthen containment measures. “We have highly motivated teams in place, with expertise, and we will strengthen them to manage this epidemic,” he stated.
Meanwhile, global health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely. Last Sunday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak—caused by the Bundibugyo strain—a global health emergency, following a sharp rise in suspected infections and deaths in eastern Congo. The declaration is aimed at mobilizing faster international coordination, funding, and technical support to prevent further spread within the region and beyond.