Jean-Luc Simbilyabo, Gospel and Reconciliation Radio and Television (RTER) in Nyakunde

Jean-Luc Simbilyabo (RTER): “In the face of the Ebola outbreak in Ituri, faith and prevention go hand in hand”

,

As the province of Ituri faces an Ebola resurgence, panic and uncertainty are spreading across the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For Radio-Télévision Évangile Réconciliation (RTER) in Nyakunde, the race against time has begun. An exclusive interview with its director, Jean-Luc Simbilyabo, who counters the prevailing fatalism with awareness-raising and Christian faith.

The official figures released on May 18, 2026, by the Minister of Health and reported by Radio Okapi are alarming: Ituri Province has surpassed 350 suspected cases, including 91 probable deaths. The urgency is compounded by a major medical challenge: the outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, a variant for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.

In Nyakunde, the local population, already devastated by the abuses of armed groups, must now face this scourge. Speaking on the air, Jean-Luc Simbilyabo describes the dual challenges faced by a Christian community radio station.

Exclusive Interview

Emmanuel Ziehli: Jean-Luc, what’s the general mood like in Nyakunde since the official announcement of the outbreak on May 15? Is there a sense of panic building?

Jean-Luc Simbalibabo: Since the announcement, the public has been torn between heightened vigilance and deep concern. Residents are trying to follow medical guidelines, but we are facing a massive wave of false rumors. At first, people thought it was a hoax or fake news, especially after incidents in the Mongwalu mining region where a coffin had been burned. But today, the reality is clear, and fear is setting in.

EZ: Could you give us an update on the current situation and the latest figures at Nyakunde Hospital? There are also reports of an American missionary being infected.

JLS: The situation at Nyakunde Hospital, which is right next to our station, is very concerning. As we speak, there are 12 recorded cases, including 4 severe cases that have tested positive and are currently in isolation. Panic has escalated with the confirmation that Dr. Peter, an American missionary doctor, has been infected. He has lived here with his family for over three years and works primarily in the emergency room. He treated a patient from Bunia who unfortunately passed away. Dr. Peter did not know that this patient had Ebola. This morning, his condition deteriorated significantly, and he has been placed under close observation.

EZ: There is no vaccine available for this Bundibugyo strain. How are people reacting to this lack of conventional medical treatments?

JLS: People are terrified. They’re doing their best to follow preventive measures: washing their hands, using ash as a disinfectant, or soap and hand sanitizer when they can afford it. But it’s a cultural struggle. The Congolese people deeply love to greet one another, shake hands, and be together. For many, adding this restriction while we’re already suffering under the yoke of the ADF rebels is seen as yet another punishment.

EZ: Speaking of which, how does your Christian radio station adapt its programming to link faith with safety guidelines?

JLS: At RTER, we’ve stepped up our programming. We consistently combine biblical messages of hope with very practical health guidelines (isolation, hygiene, caution regarding gatherings). The government hasn’t banned religious services yet, but we’re driving home a key message on the air: faith and prevention go hand in hand.

Radio and Television Gospel Reconciliation (RTER) in Nyakunde
Radio and Television Gospel Reconciliation (RTER) in Nyakunde

EZ: Changing traditional funeral customs is a sensitive issue for families. What arguments do you use on the air?

JLS: This is a major pastoral challenge. We explain that the physical body is merely a shell and that refusing to touch the remains of a loved one who has died of Ebola is an act of protection for the survivors. We work hand in hand with God’s servants. Through a WhatsApp support group dedicated to countering misinformation, we’ve mobilized about thirty local pastors. They go on the air to encourage churches to adapt their practices: praying for the sick from a distance, without laying on of hands, and stopping physical greetings.

“Drawing on the Epistle to the Romans (14:13), we explain on the air that burying our dead with dignity while protecting the living from infection is the greatest act of love and faith one can perform.” – Jean-Luc Simbilyabo

EZ: The Minister of Health has just delivered 5 tons of supplies to Bunia in collaboration with the WHO, but the region is home to hundreds of thousands of people. What is the reality of this supply situation where you are?

JLS: Five tons for a population of this size is a drop in the bucket. On the ground, international aid is being hampered, particularly by the suspension of USAID funding, which is having a catastrophic impact. In pharmacies, the prices of masks and bleach have doubled or even tripled. The population is being suffocated. People can’t even get to their fields anymore because ADF jihadists are demanding a $10 monthly tax just to let them farm! The radio remains the only free and accessible source of information to guide them.

EZ: Despite the repeated crises in Ituri, you continue to hold strong, and you’re even grooming your son to take over. Where do you personally find the strength and resilience to guide your listeners through this new storm?

JLS: I say with the Apostle Paul, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me”—that is Jesus Christ. It’s not easy, you see… I spend a great deal of time in prayer, with the deep conviction that God can never abandon us when we are in His field, in His mission. He has called us for this, and we are here to press on. Having my son by my side gives me tremendous strength. It gives me hope that one day, he will be able to help me and take over this heavy burden, if the Lord is delayed in coming.

“Having my son by my side gives me strength and hope that one day he will be able to take over this heavy burden.” – Jean-Luc Simbilyabo

EZ: What is your most urgent appeal today to the international solidarity network (Médias Ébène, FOMECAF, AbR) that supports you?

JLS: Please pray for us and support us logistically. Our six gel batteries for the transmitter are completely worn out after five years of service. They drain very quickly as soon as the sun goes down. We are then forced to turn on the generator, but the price of diesel has skyrocketed. We urgently need to replace these six batteries to stay on the air, because with the impending lockdown and the likely closure of churches, the radio will become the one and only place where people can seek comfort, guidance, and the truth.

Sources for this article

Source: Epidemiological alerts from the Ituri Regional Authorities.

Official source: Ministry of Health of the DRC & Radio Okapi news report – May 18, 2026

Field report: RTER Nyakunde – Exclusive interview with Jean-Luc Simbilyabo.

Médias Ebène is launching a fundraising campaign to meet the urgent needs of Radio-Télévision Évangile Réconciliation (RTER) in Nyakunde; please note: Ituri emergency

Médias Ebène | CIC Morteau
IBAN FR76 3008 7331 4800 0205 9540 125
/by

DRC: Escalating ADF terror in Mambasa territory

,

The province of Ituri, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is facing a security and humanitarian crisis of alarming proportions. Between March 28 and 31, 2026, rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) carried out a series of bloody raids, blocking major roads and plunging the Mambasa region into terror.

Casualties and mass abductions

The weekend of March 28–29 marked a turning point in the violence along the Mambasa–Komanda route. According to Radio Okapi, the attacks began in Babungwe before spreading to Lomalisa, where the assailants fired into the air to force villagers to surrender. Human rights activist John Vuleverio, quoted by the media outlet, cites the terrifying figure of 388 civilians taken hostage.

The horror does not end with the capture. Local sources cited by ituri.cd and CODEPEF report that “some victims were reportedly executed, their bodies left unburied at the scene” in the Bakwanza Forest. This situation has led to the closure of more than ten health facilities, depriving thousands of people of vital care.

A crippled economy and transportation system

On Monday, March 30, another attack struck the Mambasa–Bunia road near Muchanga. Laurent Kyeya, coordinator of CODEPEF (Convention for the Development of Forest Peoples), paints a picture of extreme gravity: “Of the seven chiefdoms in the Mambasa territory, the majority are currently under threat from ADF rebels. This insecurity is affecting several major road routes, notably Mambasa–Nduye, Mambasa–Kisangani, and Mambasa–Beni.”

As RFI points out, this strategy of terror is directly targeting road users and farmers. In the towns of Makokolo and Mandima, residents no longer dare to go to their fields, which is seriously jeopardizing agricultural production. The consequences are immediate: massive population displacements toward the center of Mambasa and a complete standstill of socioeconomic activities.

A Testimony to Resilience

When asked about this situation, Jean-Luc Simbilyabo, director of RTER (Radio Télé Évangile Réconciliation) in Nyakunde, delivers a message of strength and faith:

“The repeated attacks along the Mambasa–Komanda route serve as a reminder of the silent suffering of thousands of families living between fear and hope. Yet, even amidst the ashes, faith remains alive: Christians continue to pray, serve, and bear witness. We can support this mission through prayer, by sharing these testimonies, and by providing concrete support to local radio stations that carry the voice of truth and peace. As it is written: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’ (John 1:5).”


Calls for a major intervention

In response to the emergency, civil society and media outlets such as Yahoo News (AFP) are calling for large-scale military operations. “Protecting civilians is a fundamental obligation of the state,” insists John Vuleverio. While the territory’s assistant administrator, Colonel Maxime, calls for calm and assures that “military operations are continuing,” the population is waiting for tangible results to secure the roads and free the captives.

Solidarity: Médias Ébène offers its full support to the Christian radio stations that are members of FOMECAF and operate in the region, particularly RTER Radio in Nyakunde, which remains an indispensable beacon of hope amid the turmoil.

Latest Developments: Ransomware Extortion

According to an update from the RTCR on April 2, following the raid in Muchanga (on the Mambasa-Bunia road), the kidnappers have taken the horror to a new level. The rebels are now demanding a ransom of $10,000 to release some of the hostages captured on March 30. This financial blackmail deepens the despair of families already deprived of their livelihoods, as access to their fields has become impossible in Makokolo and Mandima.

Sources
Local and direct sources
  • CODEPEF (Convention for the Development of Forest Peoples): Report by Attorney Laurent Kyeya on insecurity in the Mambasa territory (March 30–31, 2026).
  • RTER (Radio Télé Évangile Réconciliation): An exclusive interview with Jean-Luc Simbilyabo, station director in Nyakunde (April 1, 2026).
Regulatory Authorities
  • Mambasa Territorial Administration: Statements by Colonel Maxime, Assistant Administrator, regarding ongoing military operations.
/by
gold miners-nyankunde

Courage and solidarity: The gold miners of Nyankunde

, ,

Radio Télé Evangile Réconciliation (RTER) is located in Nyankunde, in the province of Ituri, in eastern Congo. In September 2002, the Nyankunde Medical Center suffered one of the worst massacres of the Ituri conflict. Over a period of 10 days, Germain Katanga's Ngiti fighters, later known as the FRPI, killed at least 12,000 people in Nyankunde and the surrounding area. The concept of reconciliation promoted by Jean Luc Simbilyabo's radio station is not overused. Very recently, he shared with us this masterful example of "integral radio," which we are pleased to share with you here.

The quest for gold and its challenges

The history of Radio Télé Evangile Réconciliation (RTER Nyankunde) is closely linked to that of the gold miners. These courageous gold seekers, despite difficult conditions, work tirelessly to improve their lives and those of their communities, demonstrating exemplary solidarity and resilience.

Every day, men and women set out in search of gold in remote areas, armed with rudimentary tools and unwavering determination. Without modern equipment, their task is difficult and their productivity limited. Nevertheless, they persevere, not only to provide for their families, but also to support local projects, including our radio station.

Radio as a pillar of the community

Their story is remarkable, particularly because of their financial support for our station, despite their low incomes. They recognize the importance of local media in giving the community a voice, informing, educating, and uniting people. This support allows us to maintain and expand our programming, thereby linking their work to the development of the region.

In return, our radio station offers specific programs to help gold miners, informing them about resource management, best practices in health and safety, and their rights. The radio station provides them with a platform for expression and exchange, strengthening solidarity and promoting collective solutions. The effects are visible: gold miners now see their profession as an opportunity for transformation.

A future filled with hope

However, gold miners face major challenges, including limited access to medical care and protective equipment. Children suffer from malnutrition and premature deaths are common. Despite these hardships, they aspire to a better future.

Local authorities' support for artisanal gold mining offers an alternative to young people who are often tempted to join armed groups. In eastern DRC, this activity represents tangible hope for thousands of families.

With better support, gold miners could increase their production and positive impact on the community, transforming their lives and strengthening local projects such as our radio station. Their courage and determination, with the right support, pave the way for a future where everyone contributes to collective development, building a better world for future generations.

J

e

Jean Luc Simbilyabo, director of Radio Télé Évangile et Réconciliation in Nyankunde, during the first training seminar held in Lomé in 2019.

/by