Rebel violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has resulted in at least 30 fatalities in recent days, further complicating efforts to control the region’s ongoing Ebola outbreak. The attacks occurred near the city of Beni in North Kivu province, a focal point of the epidemic, where militia fighters linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) launched nighttime raids on villages including Matété, Mamuli, and Kitoho.

Local officials and community leaders reported that around 10 people were killed during these raids, with motorcycles and homes set on fire and civilians abducted. The ADF, a group affiliated with the Islamic State and known for frequent assaults on both civilians and military forces, was blamed for the violence. Saturday night marked a significant escalation when the militia entered Beni city itself—the first such penetration since government forces secured the area in 2021. Witnesses described scenes of beheadings, shootings, and mass panic as hundreds fled their homes into surrounding bushland. More than 20 men, women, and children were reported killed, while dozens remain missing.

Residents of affected neighborhoods, such as Ngandi, recounted the terror of the attacks. One Beni resident described hearing screams and, upon daylight, discovering beheaded neighbors. The ongoing insecurity has compounded the challenges of containing the Ebola outbreak, which has so far infected 344 people and claimed 60 lives across North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri provinces.

The military governor of North Kivu confirmed that three Ebola patients escaped treatment centers in Beni following the most recent assaults, raising concerns about the potential for further viral spread. Albert Lusenge, a civil society activist who has lost multiple family members to ADF violence, highlighted the dual threat posed by the group and the disease. He expressed apprehension about weakened community trust and adherence to containment measures as residents flee violence, complicating efforts to isolate infected individuals.

The government in Kinshasa condemned the attacks in a statement reaffirming its commitment to prioritizing the fight against the ADF insurgency. Experts warned that the persistent insecurity could undermine both medical interventions and community engagement crucial to managing the outbreak. Reagan Miviri, a researcher with a local think tank, noted that volatile conditions make it difficult for health workers to operate safely and for residents to understand the focus on Ebola while violence continues unabated.

On the international stage, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus underscored that the conflict in North Kivu and Ituri provinces severely hinders efforts to contain the epidemic. He stressed that effective isolation of patients and building of community trust are nearly impossible amid ongoing attacks and instability.

The unfolding situation highlights the complex intersection of armed conflict and public health crises in the DRC, where insecurity not only drives loss of life directly but also jeopardizes responses to deadly epidemics.