Dozens of health workers at the forefront of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo are protesting unpaid wages and bonuses, leading to work stoppages at several facilities. The demonstrations are occurring in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, which accounts for nearly 90% of the nation's Ebola cases.
These workers, including nurses providing direct care to Ebola patients, report not having received any payment since the outbreak was declared in mid-May. They are protesting at the governor’s office, demanding a swift resolution to the payment delays.
"With this way of managing things, Ebola will not end in this province," said Edouige Makosi, one of the protesters. "We ask the authorities to get involved at all levels so that a solution is found quickly."
Congolese officials have previously cited logistical challenges as the reason for delayed payments. As of Thursday, authorities had not immediately responded to requests for comment.
The welfare of frontline responders has been a significant concern throughout this outbreak, the second-largest in recorded history. It is unfolding in one of Congo's most remote and vulnerable regions, where many health workers and facilities have also faced attacks from rebels and angry mobs.
During a visit to Congo on Wednesday, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged Congolese authorities to prioritize support for the responders. The medical charity Doctors Without Borders stated this week that the outbreak continues to spread at an "alarming and unprecedented rate" and that current response efforts, despite expansion, are "still not reaching communities quickly enough to break transmission chains."
Health workers at the epicenter of an Ebola outbreak protest over unpaid wages at the provincial governor's office in Ituri, eastern Congo, on Aug. 6, 2026.
