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Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
Taking Stock
The past three months have seen terrible political upheavals in and around the park. It’s painfully familiar. The waves of violence mirror those of 2008, just like those of 2004 and 1998.
The tragic events of April 1994 in Rwanda brought a million refugees to the boundaries of our park and in their wake, scavenging on the misery of the displaced, the militias that destroyed the aspirations of a whole generation. Almost twenty years have lapsed since those short traumatic months and when we listen to the media and to the expatriate circles of UN experts, political analysts and humanitarian officers, there is a sentiment that nothing, really, has changed.
A ranger watches the savannah from a Lulimbi watchtower.
I flew to Lulimbi yesterday to bring supplies and to work with our rangers who are trying to hold the Ishasha Valley since the FDLR militias took complete control of the surrounding area three weeks ago. These FDLR units are the remnants of the Rwandan militias accused of perpetrating the genocide in 1994. In the east of the park, they are no longer just a militia group, they now run the administration in Ishasha and Nyakakoma, they raise taxes and they instruct the population on what they can and can’t do. Our rangers have only really managed to hold a few square kilometres around the station, but for the FDLR, the rangers are an unacceptable presence at the heart of their territory. So they’ve attacked Lulimbi twice in the past ten days, and wounded two of our rangers. Three of their’s were killed in the process. At night, the rangers see flashlights as the FDLR re-position themselves around our station. The rangers are on alert, but I didn’t get any sense of anxiety or fear. They just seem confident and determined.
I spent a few moments talking to Augustin Rwimu, one of our rangers who had been based in Lulimbi in 2008. That year, the same FDLR units attacked our station just as they did a week ago. Our defenses collapsed and our rangers fled into Uganda and registered as refugees. Augustin assured me that things were very different now. Lulimbi is critical for the defense of a corridor with Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. It is tremendously important for our elephant, hippo and buffalo populations and holds the key to the the restoration of the park. Later that morning, during inspection, I asked the rangers who had been at Lulimbi in 2008 to come forward and asked them the same question. They laughed, there was no way they were giving Lulimbi up to the FDLR.
The legacy of 1994 wasn’t just the arrival of the militias, it was the final straw in the fracturing of the fragile state security institutions, of which we’re a part. Their collapse left the population exposed and defenseless amidst the violence. Holding out against the FDLR in Lulimbi has been much more than protecting the wildlife, it’s a small tentative step in reversing the collapse after 1994.
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11 Responses to “Taking Stock”
Everytime I read your blog I cannot believe how brave you all are! We love you! You are heroes!
Thank you for a great article Emmanuel and for asking the hard questions of the rangers. I know it must be a very difficult decision for the ranger to stay under questionable odds. But, with moral and physical support I feel they will succeed. I wish the tide would turn against the FDLR and more people would stand up and take back their communities. Maybe the bravery you and your rangers show will be the catalyst. As always our thoughts and prayers are with you.
You guys are amazing!! Thanks SO much for all the work you do. Such a great shame that the UN / humanitarian debacle that followed the Rwandan genocide is STILL having repercussions nearly twenty years later, and that the thugs and murderers they fed and watered in the “refugee” camps around Goma are still terrorising Eastern DRC and Virunga in particular.
yes, it’s always very difficult to determine the best way forward in a volatile political environment. In 1994 to ‘96, the humanitarian actions that were offered with the best of intentions ended up fueling the armed groups that were at the root of the suffering. That said, hindsight does make it a lot easier to judge.
It continues to amaze me that there are such brave and wonderful people in the world. Stay strong, my heart is with you all.
I cannot thank you and the Rangers enough for fighting the good fight. We all have our part to play to fight against evil in the world. Your staff inspire me– thanks for showing me what it means to make a difference in the world.
Maybe something concrete will emerge from the next ICGLR leaders meeting, but not holding my breath.
Such a heavy burden the people, rangers and you have to carry. It is indeed inspiring the spirit of the rangers. The park has so many true heroes, thank you all.
There is always hope for a new way…
Indeed, there are almost 20,000 UN troops here, costing taxpayers about $5m a day. The idea of bringing in a second peace making force under the African Union to offset the fact that the UN force has failed to stem the current conflict seems to fly in the face of all logic. It’s a natural reaction in any big bureaucracy to try to fix things by by-passing the problem and creating a parallel force instead of tackling the root of the problem within the UN mission.
thanks Emmanuel for the commitment and dedication. a brighter day is coming. All the rangers efforts are greatly appreciated.
[...] have recently told you many stories about Lulimbi in the eastern central sector and our rangers’ struggle to hold onto this area against a [...]