Former rebel fighters join campaign against Ebola in the DR Congo

© MONUSCOFormer rebels in the DR Congo are now supporting Ebola prevention awareness in their communities.Saturday, August 15, 2026UN NewsDemobilised former combatants are actively joining the fight against Ebola by participating in public information campaigns in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Twenty-seven former rebels are being deployed as community mobilisers in the Tchomia locality of Ituri Province to promote behaviours that prevent the spread of the deadly virus.A deadly outbreak The Ebola outbreak is on track to become the deadliest epidemic in the history of the DRC.The latest information states that the current outbreak has already killed 2,000 lives across the country. Caused by the Bundibugyo species, for which there is not yet an approved vaccine, the outbreak is spreading quickly. Conflict, poor roads and the lack of access to healthcare are making it difficult to contain. It has recently reached a sixth province in the DR Congo, and it is threatening to spread to neighbouring South Sudan, according to media reports. Rebel combatants turned community mobilisers Eastern DRC has suffered years of instability as rebel groups have continued to fig...