Congo police fire warning shots in burial dispute after suspected Ebola death
Police in northeastern Congo fired warning shots during a dispute over the burial of a suspected Ebola victim, a local footballer. The incident underscores the challenges faced by authorities in enforcing safe burial practices to contain the Ebola outbreak. The current outbreak has already resulted in 160 suspected deaths, prompting concerns about public trust and misinformation.
- ▪Police fired warning shots and tear gas to disperse a crowd protesting the burial of a suspected Ebola victim.
- ▪The family of the deceased footballer disputed the cause of death and demanded to take the body for burial themselves.
- ▪The current Ebola outbreak in Congo has resulted in 160 suspected deaths out of 670 suspected cases.
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Congo police fire warning shots in burial dispute after suspected Ebola deathSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxRed Cross workers prepare to handle the body of a person who died of Ebola, as aid agencies intensify efforts to contain a new Ebola outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain, at the Centre Medical Evangelique (CME) in Hoho commune of Bunia, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 21, 2026. REUTERS/Gradel Muyisa Mumbere/File PhotoPublished May 22, 2026, 01:54 AMUpdated May 22, 2026, 01:54 AMRWAMPARA, May 21 - Police fired warning shots and tear gas as part of a dispute in northeastern Congo over the burial of a suspected Ebola victim, a footballer who played for local teams, that saw protesters burn down tents for Ebola patients, Reuters witnesses…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.