At least 33 people have been killed after Islamist militants attacked a village in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), forcing patients infected with or suspected of having Ebola to flee a healthcare facility. The attack took place in Cantine, in North Kivu province, on the night of November 5–6, 2026.
According to local authorities, fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group affiliated with Islamic State, attacked the area, burned houses and set fire to a health centre. Around 180 patients reportedly fled from a nearby hospital, including one confirmed Ebola patient and several suspected cases. Local officials also reported that more than 50 houses were set on fire.
Health experts have expressed serious concerns that the fleeing patients and people who had been in contact with infected individuals could spread the virus to other communities. North Kivu is already one of the major centres of the Ebola outbreak, making the situation even more dangerous. The ongoing violence has also disrupted medical services and made it difficult for health workers to control the spread of the disease.
