The recent reports of an Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo have once again sent shockwaves across the world. The Ebola virus remains one of the most notorious diseases to have plagued the African continent, with intermittent outbreaks occurring over several decades. Due to its extremely high mortality rate and the manner in which it spreads — primarily through contact with bodily fluids — Ebola is also one of the world’s most feared viruses.
The last major Ebola outbreak occurred nearly a decade ago in West Africa, with countries such as Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone suffering tens of thousands of confirmed infections and deaths. Likewise, the DRC has experienced repeated outbreaks over the years, reflecting the persistent vulnerability of parts of the continent to deadly infectious diseases.
In the aftermath of the global COVID-19 pandemic, public anxiety surrounding the possibility of another major viral outbreak remains especially high. The lockdowns, quarantines, and economic disruptions experienced across the world during Covid-19 fundamentally changed how societies view public health crises.
Moments such as these, whether during outbreaks like Ebola and Covid-19, or amid the widespread conflict and insecurity affecting regions such as the Congo, the Sahel, and parts of East Africa, reveal the devastating long-term consequences of corruption and poor governance more clearly than ever.
Weak healthcare systems, limited access to clean water and electricity, and underfunded public institutions make containing outbreaks such as Ebola significantly more difficult. The West African Ebola epidemic of the 2010s was eventually brought under control not solely through the efforts of affected African governments, but also through a massive international response coordinated by the World Health Organization. International epidemiologists, laboratory experts, and clinicians were deployed to establish mobile testing facilities, treatment centres, and emergency response systems across the region.
Today, however, the global situation is increasingly different. The willingness of the international community to continually compensate for corruption, state inefficiency, and failing public institutions across parts of Africa is diminishing. International aid funding has already faced major disruptions, particularly following decisions by the administration of Donald Trump to significantly scale back programmes linked to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The consequences are already becoming visible. Across parts of Africa, reductions in humanitarian assistance have contributed to growing concerns over access to essential healthcare services, including HIV treatment, while aid organisations continue to warn about worsening hunger and food insecurity in multiple regions.
These are the real-world consequences of corruption, weak institutions, and self-serving governance. In times of stability, poor governance can often appear abstract or distant. But during moments of crisis, whether pandemics, wars, or humanitarian emergencies, it is ordinary citizens across the continent who ultimately pay the highest price.
Around the Continent
- The World Health Organisation has declared an Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Atleast 131 deaths have been reports, with over 500 cases suspected.
- The US and Nigeria have conducted joint airstrikes against Islamic State-linked militants in Northern NIgeira resulting in the death of one of the highest ranking ISIS leader’s based in the region
- Around four people have died and 30 injured in deadly protests by public transportation operators in Kenya striking over the rising cost of fuel.
Numbers that Matter: Ebola Outbreak
- At least 139 are believed to have died from the Ebola outbreak in the DRC
- There are over 600 suspected Ebola cases according to WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
- At least two cases and one death from Ebola has been reported in Uganda
- The first case of Ebola was reported in 1976
- The last major Ebola outbreak in West Africa between 2013 and 2016 saw around 30,000 confirmed cases and over 10,000 confirmed deaths, with most cases being belived to have gone unreported.
Recommended reads
No, Foreign Aid is not Making Africa Poor – on Africa’s dependecy on Foreign aid
The African Union Operates Exactly as Designed – on the African Union and its role in response to crisis across Africa
Why are African Governments so Inefficient? – on corruption and government inefficiency
Trump’s Foreign Policy Displays His Disdain for Africa – on Donald Trump’s foreign policy towards Africa
