Congo Rangers

Category: Crises, Hippos | Date: Oct 09 2006 | By: admin

The Virunga National Park has become rampant with militia activity in the run-up to the elections putting both the wildlife and park rangers in grave danger.

The Mai Mai Camp of Cyondo (Google Earth : S 00 37’96’’ E 029 31’ 24’’)

A small group of Mai Mai have killed 407 hippos in the last two weeks alone, and there are talks of a coalition of rebel leaders who are apparently trying to acquire ivory to sell on the black market.  Rumours suggest that between them they have already amassed over 200 points of ivory probably hidden somewhere in the park, and with this last slaughter they must be nearing their target which is said to be 1,000 points. 

The Congolese Wildlife Authority called an urgent meeting on Sunday with the head of the Mai Mai and the head of the Interehamwe to demand that the rampant poaching of hippo and elephant cease.  The head of the Mai Mai however decided to boycott the meeting and the opportunity for dialogue, and instead sent an advance party of 12 Mai Mai to attack the ranger post at Muramba on the north western shores of Lake Edward. After the Mai Mai had caught and disarmed the 4 rangers and 6 military who were based there, no less than 90 Mai Mai soldiers descended upon Muramba, seven of them carrying rocket launchers.

MONUC arrived at Muramba earlier today to assess the situation and I will try and get hold of their report tomorrow.  What is clear though is that MONUC’s strategy not to engage in offensive operations against rebel troops in the lead up to the elections has resulted in total anarchy within the park.  I have already approached MONUC asking them to deploy a company of UN soldiers in support of the Advance Force in an attempt to get a handle on the situation.  MONUC is currently in containment mode however, and will not provide the neccessary support until after the elections.  The question is how long can the rangers and wildlife hold out?