Two Killed as Police Open Fire on Crowd Trying to Open Ebola Victim's Coffin at Beni Cemetery

Two people died Thursday, Sept 24, 2026 in Beni's Rwangoma neighborhood, North Kivu, after a group of young people attempted to open the coffin of an Ebola virus disease victim during burial to view the body before interment, in violation of the response's dignified and secure burial protocols. Police opened fire to disperse the crowd; a young girl was killed on the spot and a second victim died of gunshot wounds at a local health facility. Several others were wounded in the ensuing confusion. Local authorities described the coffin-opening attempt as a "flagrant violation" of safe burial measures and called on the population, especially youth, to respect the protocols to prevent further Ebola transmission.