Skip to main content

Virunga National Park: DR Congo rangers killed



Virunga National Park: DR Congo rangers killed

Virunga National Park rangers and tourists Rebels recently opened the park to tourists
Two rangers and a soldier have been killed by rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo's famous Virunga National Park, officials say.
Five rebels were also killed in the attack in the park, which is one of the world's last refuges for mountain gorillas.
Some of eastern DR Congo's numerous armed groups are based in the park, where they often poach animals.
More than 130 park rangers have been killed in the park since 1996.
According to Reuters news agency, the M23 rebel group which has bases in the park, recently allowed tourist visits to resume.
This year's rebellion by the M23 has caused some 500,000 people to flee their homes.
Park director Emmanuel de Merode said the rangers, who were travelling with an armed escort were ambushed by members of the Mai Mai militia.
"They came under attack from a quite substantial Mai Mai unit... It was very heavy fire received," he told Reuters.
In July, armed groups fighting in the area agreed to let a search for mountain gorillas to proceed.
Virunga is home to 480 of the world's 790 remaining mountain gorillas. It is one of the most bio-diverse places on Earth and is on the UN list of World Heritage sites in danger.
The mountain gorillas have been threatened with extinction because of expanding human settlements, the long-running conflict in the region, and possible oil exploration in the park.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20092835

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Le Troisième Mandat de Louise Mushikiwabo à l'OIF : Entre Précédent et Principe Démocratique.

Le Troisième Mandat de Louise Mushikiwabo à l'OIF : Entre Précédent et Principe Démocratique. L'Alternance à l'OIF : Pourquoi un Troisième Mandat Fragilise la Crédibilité de la Francophonie. Introduction Louise Mushikiwabo veut un troisième mandat à la tête de l'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. Son annonce, faite bien avant l'émergence d'autres candidats, rappelle une tactique familière en Afrique : affirmer qu'on a le soutien populaire sans jamais le prouver publiquement. La méthode est rodée. Des dirigeants africains l'utilisent depuis des décennies pour prolonger leur règne. Ils clament que "le peuple le demande" ou que "les partenaires soutiennent" cette reconduction. Aucune preuve formelle n'est nécessaire. L'affirmation devient réalité politique. Mais voilà le problème : la Francophonie prêche la démocratie, l'État de droit et l'alternance au pouvoir. Peut-elle tolérer en son sein ce qu...

-“The enemies of Freedom do not argue ; they shout and they shoot.”

-“The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.”

-“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”

-“I have loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore I die in exile.”

IRIN - Great Lakes

UN News Centre - Africa