Coronavirus kills presidential aide of DR Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo's respected human rights lawyer and aide to President Félix Tshisekedi has died as a result of coronavirus infection.

As of March 25, DR Cono has confirmed a total of 48 coronavirus cases with three deaths, forcing President Tshisekedi to close the country’s borders and isolate the capital, Kinshasa, the state with the highest cases, from the rest of the country.

Jean-Joseph Mukendi wa Mulumba, who was the acting head of President Tshisekedi’s legal advisory council, becomes the countries third recorded coronavirus death.

According to the BBC, Mulumba might have gotten the infection during his trip to France for a medical check-up.

Mr Mulumba has been a key figure in DR Congo opposition politics and in human rights circles.

He was a close aide of the late veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, the father of the current president.

Mr Tshisekedi took over from Mr Kabila in January last year, the first peaceful transfer of power in the country in nearly 60 years.

BBC