Kasindi faces worrying community resistance to the Ebola response: attacks, theft of medical supplies, and a growing challenge for awareness teams
DEC-Organization DRC; Emmanuel Ndimwiza, Editor-in-Chief
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The rural commune of Kasindi, in the Beni territory of North Kivu, is facing a series of acts of community resistance that threaten efforts to combat the Ebola virus disease. As the Democratic Republic of Congo confronts its 17th epidemic, several worrying incidents have been reported in recent weeks, including the theft of sanitary equipment installed at strategic locations and acts of intimidation against those involved in raising public awareness. The most recent case involves a young volunteer awareness worker who was attacked and injured on June 12, 2026, while conducting an information campaign on the risks associated with Ebola. Treated at a local health facility, he symbolizes the difficulties faced by field teams.
According to civil society groups in Kasindi, the alleged perpetrators of this attack are young people claiming to be from the Wazalendo community, who came from Butembo. Three suspects have already been apprehended by security services as part of ongoing investigations. For community leaders, these acts represent a serious obstacle to prevention and risk jeopardizing efforts to contain any potential spread of the virus. Beyond physical assaults, the destruction or theft of medical equipment also reflects a persistent mistrust among a segment of the population towards public health interventions, a phenomenon already observed during previous outbreaks in the region.
Faced with this situation, civil society is calling for collective mobilization to strengthen community support for the response. Among the solutions being considered are increased involvement of community, religious, and youth leaders in awareness campaigns, the establishment of permanent dialogue mechanisms between the population and health teams, and enhanced protection of sanitary facilities installed in public spaces. Authorities are also urged to continue investigations into the perpetrators of these acts of violence while prioritizing transparent communication tailored to local realities in order to restore trust and ensure the effectiveness of Ebola prevention measures.
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