gorilla.cd
Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
Rebel Militias Enter Mountain Gorilla Sector
In the early hours of yesterday morning, a rebel army of reportedly around 1,500 men under the command of Bosco Ntaganda crossed the Park from the west and entered the Gorilla Sector. Â Bosco Ntaganda was indicted by the International Criminal Court for War Crimes, and took up arms last month following widespread rumours that the Congolese Government were about to arrest him.
Bosco has a long history in the region. Â He was Laurent Nkunda’s second in command during the 2007-8 rebellion. Â In early 2009, he betrayed Nkunda, and in the process broke the back of the rebellion. Â Since then, he has served as a general in the Congolese army, but remains hugely controversial because of his alleged crimes in North Kivu and in the Ituri region.
Just before entering the Gorilla Sector, they crossed a detachment of Congolese military which provoked a violent confrontation. Â This panicked the population in the village of Kibumba, and has provoked a large scale population displacement towards Goma. Â This is sadly reminiscent of the situation we suffered four years ago, and we may see the re establishment of internally displaced people’s camps (refugee camps) on a very large scale.
On our side, we’re preparing ourselves. Â The gorillas are not immediately at risk, but we have several units in the forest that are in danger. Â There is a patrol of 12 of our rangers in the forest just east of the area where the rebels are believed to be. Â This patrol has been cut off between the Rwandan border and the rebels, so they’re stuck for now. Â They have 48 hours of rations left, so we are worried. Â Also our rangers at the patrol posts of Bukima, Bikenge and Jomba are at risk, so we’re taking measures to keep them safe.
Needless to say, we made the decision to close the park to tourism until the situation is safe again. Â Apart from that, our park staff are continuing their work much as before. Â Hopefully, things will work out in the coming days.
For more photos from a Dutch News Site, click HERE
This may take some time...
Leave a Reply
-
RECENT DONATIONS
-
21 May 2013Protecting Park Area 75
Katy A 25 $ -
20 May 2013Protecting Park Area 76
Kevin 25 $ - 20 May 2013 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 20 May 2013 Guarding a Gorilla
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 20 May 2013Monthly Support
Unregistered Donor 35 $ -
20 May 2013Protecting Park Area 169
25 $ -
20 May 2013Open donation
Tatjana D 10 $ - 20 May 2013 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 20 May 2013Protecting Park Area 216
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 20 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
20 May 2013Supporting Jomba School
Eugene Martin F 30 $ - 20 May 2013Supporting Gatovu School
Eugene Martin F 30 $ - 20 May 2013Supporting Bikenge School
Eugene Martin F 35 $ - 19 May 2013Open donation
100 $ -
19 May 2013Protecting Park Area 117
Anna L 25 $ -
19 May 2013Protecting Park Area 39
Bill W 25 $ - 19 May 201320 x Virunga's Surveillance Aircraft
Unregistered Donor 20 $ - 19 May 2013OPEN DONATIONS
Unregistered Donor 50 $ - 18 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 20 $ - 18 May 2013Widows and Rangers Fund
Unregistered Donor 30 $ - 18 May 20132 x Gorilla and Wildlife Protection
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 18 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
18 May 2013Protecting Park Area 133
Janice T 25 $ - 18 May 2013Protecting Park Area 131
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 18 May 2013Support Andre and the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 18 May 2013 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 20 $ -
17 May 2013Protecting Park Area 218
Thierry 25 $ - 17 May 2013Monthly Support
Unregistered Donor 15 $ -
17 May 2013Widows and Rangers Fund
stefanie r 30 $ - 17 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 17 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 50 $ - 16 May 2013 Guarding a Gorilla
stefanie r 10 $ - 16 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 16 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 16 May 2013 Multiple items
Selina S 200 $ - 15 May 2013 Guarding a Gorilla
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
15 May 2013 Multiple items
Bob V 50 $ -
15 May 20133 x Widows and Rangers Fund
Marlene Z 45 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 15 May 2013Protecting Park Area 215
Bob V 25 $ - 15 May 2013Protecting Park Area 137
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Eugene Martin F 100 $ -
15 May 2013Open donation
Lisa T 10 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Brenton 10 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 15 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 15 May 2013 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 40 $
-
-
-
News from Congo- Congo Central Bank Governor Seen Extending Bank Services - Bloomberg
- Rebels and army clash in DR Congo's Goma - Aljazeera.com
- Paul Kagame denies Rwanda proxies in DR Congo - BBC News
- UN made DR Congo problems 'worse' says Rwanda's Paul Kagame - BBC News
- M23 rebels, Congo army trade fire near Goma - BDlive
- Congo's army clashes with rebels near eastern city of Goma - Yahoo! News
- Rebels, army clash in eastern Congo - Deutsche Welle
- Malaria Overstretching Healthcare in DRC - AllAfrica.com
- Bidders vie to build world's largest hydropower plant in Congo - Globe and Mail
- DR Congo's Withcraft Epidemic: 50000 Children Accused of Sorcery - IBTimes.co.uk
This website was funded by the European Union and the Prince Bernard Nature Fund.
10 Responses to “Rebel Militias Enter Mountain Gorilla Sector”
I am so sorry to read this terrible news. I’m hoping for the best for Virunga and its communities.
Can’t imagine entering that park to do anything to harm even a blade of grass or a leaf on a tree much less what they are prepared to do.
Thank you so much to all those risking their lives to protect the gorillas. You have my gratitude and respect. I hope your rangers are safe.
Emergency rations were sent in to the patrol teams yesterday from the Rwanda side. Wishing the patrols a safe exit and a swift (and calm) end to this situation. Thinking of you all!
My thoughts are with you all and hopefully, hopefully this situation will soon come an end, peacefully!
Serious prayers to our Blood brothers and Sisters in DR Congo.
Big up to all mountain gorilla conservationists!
Hoping this will not end in a disaster. Good luck to all and stay safe and please protect the gorillas.
Breaks my heart to read this post, just praying it is not another 2007/8 situation. I am deeply sad for Paluku’s fate. Please stay safe.
Why are the Governments in DRC, Rwanda and Uganda not making more efforts to rid Virunga of these rebels? It is very sad to see the good work of the park being threatened again and, the lives of those living around Virunga. This is the tourism capitol of DRC and generates lots of income for Rwanda too, as many visitors pass through their country. I hope the rangers will be safe and the gorillas too.
It is about time this region sorted out its affairs. This does not help the populations, the governments or the gorillas. A lasting peace settlement is needed. The countries involved will be much better off financially in the long run. The UN should be used to protect the Park during episodes like this. Many years of hard work, money from around the world, and the unselfish dedication of laocal rangers, wardens, communities is all being trashed by crazy militia leaders.
Get a real job man.