DRC - North Kivu: Nearly 40 people hospitalized after suspected cassava flour poisoning including 7 deaths in Visiki, Beni territory

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North Kivu: 36 people hospitalized after consuming a paste made from cassava flour

Uncategorized August 29, 2026

An unusual situation is worrying the inhabitants of Visiki-Mambombo, in the Baswagha-Madiwe group, Beni territory, in North Kivu.

At least 36 people are hospitalized at the Mambingi health center, in the Kalunguta health zone, after consuming a paste made from cassava flour suspected of causing poisoning.

The events date back to Sunday, August 23, 2026, following the death of a child, Justin, aged approximately 10. According to information gathered at the scene, the child had consumed a dough prepared with this flour the previous day; the source of the poisoning remains to be determined.

During the mourning ceremony held the same day at Visiki-Centre, several people reportedly consumed this paste before developing signs of poisoning.

They were taken to the Mambingi health center for treatment. Investigations are expected to determine the exact source of the poisoning and prevent any further cases.

January Kasereka Malikidogo

Nord-Kivu : 36 personnes hospitalisées après avoir consommé une pâte à base de farine de manioc - ITURI.CD

Une situation inhabituelle inquiète les habitants de Visiki-Mambombo, dans le groupement Baswagha-Madiwe, territoire de Beni, au Nord-Kivu. Au moins 36 personnes sont hospitalisées au centre de santé Mambingi, dans la zone de santé de Kalunguta, après avoir consommé une pâte préparée à base...

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Beni: 36 people hospitalized after suspected cassava flour poisoning

30.08.2026

At least 36 people are hospitalized in the Beni territory of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after consuming a paste made with cassava flour suspected of being contaminated, local sources said Saturday.

The victims are being treated at the Mambingi health center, in the Kalunguta health zone, according to these sources.

The case began on August 23 after the death of a child of about ten years old, identified as Justin, who had allegedly consumed the previous day a dough prepared with the flour in question.

Several people who attended the child's funeral at Visiki-Centre reportedly consumed the same preparation and developed symptoms of poisoning.

In total, four deaths have been reported since the start of the incident. Three members of the same family reportedly died after consuming the preparation. A fourth person, Kasereka Matchetche, an elderly woman, died on Friday at the Mabalako General Referral Hospital.

Tests carried out to look for Ebola virus disease have reportedly come back negative in the deceased and in hospitalized patients, according to civil society leaders.

The exact cause of the poisoning has not yet been established.

Representatives of civil society are calling on the relevant authorities to carry out analyses of the flour and food in question in order to determine the possible presence of toxic substances.

Two suspects wanted

Two men suspected of involvement in the case were reportedly arrested on Thursday by young people from Visiki-Centre. According to local sources, they confessed to poisoning a cassava stall in Kitholu.

After their arrest, they were reportedly brought before a local authority before managing to escape during the night.

This escape sparked tensions in Visiki, where young people gathered on Friday evening. Some reportedly also tried to retrieve the body of Kasereka Matchetche, who died in Mabalako, to bring it back to the town.

The situation on Saturday raised fears of acts of mob justice, according to the same sources.

The president of the civil society forces of Visiki-Mambombo, Tufurayi Musanzi, who allegedly participated in efforts to avoid mob justice against the suspects, has reportedly gone into hiding for fear of his safety.

Civil society groups are calling on authorities to strengthen security during Kasereka Matchetche's funeral, scheduled for Saturday in Visiki, and to protect those threatened in connection with this case.

They also call for an investigation to establish the exact circumstances of the poisoning and deaths.

Denise Kyalwahi
Opinion Info / MCP, via mediacongo.net

Actualité | Beni : 36 personnes hospitalisées après une intoxication présumée à la farine de manioc | mediacongo.net

Au moins 36 personnes sont hospitalisées dans le territoire de Beni, dans l'est de la République démocratique du Congo, après avoir consommé...

www.mediacongo.net

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Beni: The death toll from the unusual situation in Visiki has risen from four to six; a thorough investigation is underway.

August 30, 2026

A meeting was organised on Saturday, August 29, 2026 in Visiki-Centre, in the Visiki-Mambombo locality, Baswagha-Madiwe group, in the territory of Beni, following the unusual situation which affected several inhabitants of this entity.

The meeting was moderated by the civil society representatives of the Baswagha-Madiwe group, led by its president, Justin Paluku Kavalami, with the support of healthcare staff from the Mabalako health zone, led by the chief medical officer of the zone, Ezee Thembo.

The objective was, in particular, to further investigate the origin of this situation and to help ease tensions within the community, while preparations for the burial of Kasereka Matchetche, one of the victims who consumed a paste made from flour suspected of causing the poisonings, were underway.

On this occasion, civil society representatives commended the behavior of the young people of Visiki-Centre, who facilitated the work of the healthcare professionals. The latter collected various samples for further analysis.

For civil society, the results of these analyses are particularly awaited by the community, which wants to know the truth about the circumstances of these deaths and see any responsibilities established.

Civil society is calling for assistance to families

Faced with the consequences of this situation, civil society leaders are also calling for enhanced medical care and humanitarian assistance for the affected families.

According to Justin Paluku Kavalami, many of the affected households are in a highly vulnerable situation. Some families have more than three, or even four, people hospitalized simultaneously, making it difficult to cover medical expenses.

Two new deaths recorded this weekend

The situation remains worrying. A fifth death was recorded at the beginning of this weekend at the LIDE hospital in Masangi, in the Visiki-Mambombo area. The victim, identified as Mupila, was not among the 36 people previously recorded as ill and hospitalized.

Furthermore, a sixth death was reported on the afternoon of Saturday, August 29. This was Meru Musubao, secretary of the Visiki captaincy, who was among the 36 people hospitalized at the Mambingi health center, in the Kalunguta health zone.

Thus, two additional deaths were recorded over the weekend, bringing to six the number of people who have died in connection with this unusual situation, according to information communicated locally.

Among the 36 people hospitalized at the Mambingi health center, two are currently in critical condition, according to the same sources.

This development continues to cause concern, stress, and dismay among the population of Visiki. Local leaders and opinion leaders, for their part, continue to urge the population to remain calm while awaiting the results of medical tests that should determine the exact cause of this situation.

Thanks-Aiglon Mukanda Paluku

Beni : le bilan de la situation inhabituelle à Visiki passe de quatre à six morts, une enquête approfondie en cours - Radio Oasis Congo

Une rencontre a été organisée le samedi 29 août 2026 à Visiki-Centre, dans la localité Visiki-Mambombo, groupement Baswagha-Madiwe, en territoire de Beni, à la suite de la situation inhabituelle ayant affecté plusieurs habitants de cette entité. La rencontre a été modérée par les Forces vives de...

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September 1, 2026

Beni: An unusual health situation has left at least seven dead in Visiki; cassava flour suspected.

By : The editorial staff

Mayuano, September 1, 2026 - An unusual health situation has claimed the lives of at least seven people in Visiki Centre, in the Baswagha-Madiwe group, Beni-Mbau sector (Beni territory), according to a provisional report communicated on Monday, August 31, by the Mabalako Local Protection Committee (CLP) and the active forces of local civil society.
According to these sources, around forty people with symptoms related to this event are being treated in several health facilities, particularly in the Mabalako and Kalunguta health zones and at the Mambingi health center. Several patients are reportedly in critical condition.

Local organizations commend the intervention of the medical teams, while calling on political, administrative, and health authorities to strengthen the emergency response, particularly by evacuating the most serious cases to better-equipped hospitals. According to community leaders in Baswagha-Madiwe, medical care for those affected has been made free of charge thanks to measures taken by the health authorities.

Cassava flour at the heart of suspicion

While no official confirmation has yet been given regarding the cause of the tragedy, citizen organizations indicate that cassava flour sold at the Kitholu market is suspected of being the source of the poisoning. They are nevertheless urging the public not to panic and to allow the health and security services to conduct the investigation.

Residents experiencing symptoms are advised to go immediately to public health facilities, including the Visiki health center or the Mabalako General Referral Hospital.

In a context marked by the surveillance of several diseases in the region, community actors are also urging the population to respect preventive measures and are asking for support for bereaved families and those affected by this situation.

Roger KAKULIRAHI

Beni : une situation sanitaire inhabituelle fait au moins sept morts à Visiki, une farine de manioc suspectée

D’après ces sources, une quarantaine de personnes présentant des symptômes liés à cet événement sont prises en charge dans plusieurs structures sanitaires, notamment dans les zones de santé de…

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North Kivu: Suspected cassava flour poisoning leaves at least 7 dead and nearly 40 critically ill in Visiki

Tuesday, September 1, 2026 - 1:13 PM

At least seven people have already died and nearly 40 others are in critical condition in Visiki, in the Baswagha-Madiwe group, Beni territory, following suspected poisoning from consuming cassava fufu. As the tragedy has unfolded for over a week, Jules Kaseraka Vayikehya, a public health expert and secretary general of the AVRP political party, has issued an urgent appeal to the military governor of North Kivu, demanding immediate intervention for the victims.

According to information gathered, the victims had consumed fufu during a family ceremony held to mark the 40th day after a period of mourning. The flour they ate was made from cassava chips that had been spread out in the bush. Shortly after eating the meal, several people who had shared it became ill, and two of them died the very next day.

“The situation is quite critical. A family in Visiki, who were mourning, gathered to commemorate the 40th day of mourning. They used cassava flour that was spread out in the bush. Before eating this cassava flour, they had been eating. But the night they consumed the suspected cassava flour, they all fell ill, and two of them died the next day. Today, there are nearly 40 patients in critical condition. As of last Monday, the seventh death had been recorded. They all present the same symptoms: diarrhea, vomiting; some have a fever, and almost all have anemia. We initially thought it was Ebola virus disease. Curiously, the results came back negative for all the samples taken by the experts. That's where the hypothesis of poisoning remains,” Jules Vayikehya explained to 7SUR7.CD.

According to him, the patients are currently being treated at the Mambingi Reference Health Center. However, this public health expert believes their condition requires more in-depth examinations and further medical expertise to precisely determine the cause of the illness. In his appeal to the military governor of North Kivu, he specifically requests the transfer of the most severely ill patients to healthcare facilities equipped with appropriate medical equipment.

He also requests increased medical and pharmaceutical assistance, nutritional support for hospitalized individuals, and the deployment, if necessary, of a specialized medical team. In his statement, he commends the efforts of the staff at the Mambingi Referral Health Center and the Mabalako General Referral Hospital, who, despite limited resources, are providing care for the victims.

Seven days after the start of this tragedy, Jules Vayikehya nevertheless regrets the lack of serious involvement from administrative authorities at almost all levels.

"Curiously, and this is what is worrying, so far there has been no investigation by the authorities, neither at the group level, nor at the sector level, down to the territory and the governorate. There is no investigative work by the authorities, apart from the health professionals who have already done their part," he laments.

In his SOS, one of the region's prominent figures believes that the population of Visiki has been abandoned to its fate despite the gravity of the situation. He calls on the provincial government to act quickly to prevent further deaths. He also appeals to national and provincial deputies, as well as senators from the Far North, to provide assistance to the affected families.

Furthermore, although Ebola virus disease is not believed to be the cause of the tragedy, the possibility of foul play has not been ruled out. According to Jules Vayikehya, and citing civilian sources on the ground, poisoning is suspected. A suspect has reportedly been apprehended and handed over to the relevant authorities. He was allegedly questioned before being released. For Jules Vayikehya, a prominent figure in the region, the lack of a thorough investigation prevents the exact circumstances of this tragedy, which has plunged several families in Visiki into mourning, from being established.

For him, while awaiting the results of any investigations, the urgent priority remains the care of the dozens of people still hospitalized, several of whom are in critical condition. The Secretary General of the AVRP is calling on the authorities not to wait for the death toll to rise before responding to this health crisis, which continues to cause concern in Visiki and the surrounding area.

Isaac Kisatiro, in Butembo

Nord-Kivu : une présumée intoxication à la farine de manioc fait au moins 7 morts et près de 40 malades dans un état critique à Visiki

Au moins 7 personnes ont déjà perdu la vie et près de 40 autres se trouvent dans un état critique à Visiki, dans le groupement Baswagha-Madiwe, en territoire de Beni, après une présumée intoxication liée à la consommation du fufu de manioc.

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