By Matters India Reporter
Kinshasa, September 8, 2026: As the Democratic Republic of the Congo confronts a rapidly worsening Ebola outbreak, communities and health workers face the crisis amid conflict, displacement and an already fragile health care system.
Since May 15, 2026, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has battled what authorities describe as the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak, a resurgence driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain.
First identified in Ituri province in the northeast, the disease has spread rapidly into North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut-Uele and Bas-Uele provinces, leaving more than 6,800 confirmed cases and over 2,700 deaths.
Government efforts to contain the outbreak have included checkpoints, quarantine measures, health screenings and restrictions on handling the bodies of Ebola victims.
Despite those interventions, transmission has continued, exposing the limitations of a response hampered by insecurity, population displacement and public mistrust.
According to reporting by CommonHome.TV from affected provinces, one of the greatest challenges facing health authorities is the lack of confidence many Congolese citizens have in government institutions.
In several affected areas, residents have been reluctant to follow official instructions, making it harder for health teams to identify cases, trace contacts and isolate infections.
Reporting for CommonHome.TV from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Redemptorist Brother Nicaise Mundurame, Africa bureau chief of the Catholic media network, said the Catholic Church has emerged as a crucial partner in the fight against the epidemic because of its credibility, presence and communication reach throughout the country.
“At this stage of the epidemic, the Catholic Church in Congo is a major actor: it has the access, the trust, and the media reach that the government lacks.
It also does what no health ministry can do, it walks with grieving families, supports the vulnerable, and offers a spiritual presence in communities living with fear and loss,” Brother Mundurame said.
CommonHome.TV, a mission of the Redemptorists, found that the Church’s vast media network often reaches communities beyond the effective communication range of government agencies, particularly in remote areas of eastern Congo.
It reported that the Church’s response has focused on awareness campaigns, infection prevention, community engagement and support for local health facilities.
Church leaders say these efforts are essential in communities where fear, rumours and misinformation continue to undermine public health measures.
Pope Leo XIV has called from Rome for urgent international mobilisation against the outbreak and has stressed that local communities must be actively involved in prevention and education efforts.
Caritas Congo, the Church’s development and social outreach agency, has also urged stronger coordination among Church institutions, public authorities, humanitarian organisations and international partners.
In June 2026, 130 religious leaders and pastoral agents participated in a briefing dedicated to community engagement and strategic communication. However, despite those efforts, Ebola continued its advance across several provinces.
The Church’s influence extends far beyond its pastoral role. It operates the largest media network in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with more than 80 radio and television stations reaching urban centres and remote rural communities alike.
In a country where poor roads, limited internet access and weak telecommunications infrastructure often isolate communities, radio and television remain the most effective means of sharing critical information.
That combination of trust and reach places Catholic media at the forefront of efforts to educate the public and rebuild confidence in prevention measures.
According to information gathered by CommonHome.TV from Church and education sources in affected provinces, many students failed to return to classrooms when the new school year began Sept. 1. Families cited fear of infection as the primary reason for keeping children at home.
Public health workers warn that the response cannot remain confined to clinics, treatment centres and checkpoints. Instead, they say prevention messages must reach schools, parishes and local communities where daily life continues despite the crisis.
As Ebola spreads through eastern Congo, CommonHome.TV indicates that trusted local institutions remain central to the response. Church leaders and Catholic media outlets are increasingly serving as trusted messengers in a battle where public confidence may prove as important as medical intervention in stopping the disease.
(Photo credits: ©EC/ECHO/Jean-Louis Mosser)