Congo fighting escalates
Category: Humanitarian Situation, Political situation, Threats | Date: Oct 04 2008 | By: rumangaboyouth
According to this article in the Associated Press fighting in Eastern Congo could escalate into a wider conflict.
“The top U.N. envoy to Congo warned Friday that renewed fighting in eastern Congo has heightened ethnic tensions and could lead to the renewal of a wider conflict in central Africa.
Alan Doss urged all militias in the country’s hilly eastern border area — the scene of the worst fighting and a humanitarian crisis in Congo — to support a U.N. disengagement plan to bring peace to the conflict-wracked region.
He expressed dismay at reports this week that a key rebel leader, Laurent Nkunda, who initially said he would discuss the plan, was now reported to be backtracking and “walking out of any effort to move the peace process forward.”
Nkunda launched a low-level rebellion several years ago claiming Congo’s transition to democracy had excluded the country’s minority Tutsi ethnic group, which is being targeted by ethnic Hutus from Congo as well as Rwanda.
The U.N. estimates there are about 20,000 militia fighters in the east, belonging to a number of different groups.
Among them are members of an extremist ethnic Hutu militia accused of orchestrating the 1994 genocide of 500,000 ethnic Tutsis in Rwanda. The group and others are accused of razing villages, terrorizing the local population and perpetrating rapes”.
The fighting in this region directly affects conservation efforts and the needs of Virunga National Park are now greater than ever and although the original authors of the gorilla blog have stopped posting here, WildlifeDirect will continue to support gorilla conservation efforts by maintaining this blog and raising funds to continue support the rangers in the field.
To date we have sent over $400,000 to the Virunga National Park from funds raied on this blog which has helped significantly in keeping the rangers on the ground. Thank you all for your support. The situation in Eastern Congo is very serious but we cannot give up hope that peace will return. Our goal is to help ensure that wildlife, especially mountain gorillas survive through this trying period. Our thoughts and prayers are with the rangers who continue to work despite the escalating conflict.
Tags: Congo, Mountain Gorillas, Virunga National Park, wildlifedirect
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Mountain Gorilla News- Gorilla warfare - Sydney Morning Herald
- Year of the Gorilla Opens With Hope for Virunga Park Gorillas - Environment News Service
- Official: Mountain gorillas surviving despite Congo conflict - Monsters and Critics.com
- Lesley Stahl: The Best Day - Women on the Web
- Rwanda Mountain Gorilla rally is back - New Vision
- News from Congo
- World Briefing | Africa Congo: Ugandan Rebels Kill 12 - New York Times
- Congo rebel mutineer 'no traitor' - BBC News
- Central African to Restart Congo Copper, Cobalt Output in April - Bloomberg
- UN Finds Scenes of Desolation in Congo Area Attacked by Rebels - Voice of America
- Global Update Hemorrhagic Fever Reappears in Congo - New York Times
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13 Responses to “Congo fighting escalates”
sheryl, washington, dc, on 04 Oct 2008
I’m very glad you’re keeping up the blog here on WLD. Thanks for this update and links on the situation in DRC. I haven’t given up hope that peace will someday return to Congo, but the rangers have a “long row to hoe” until that day. I plan to keep an eye on them hear and on gorilla.cd.
s.
admin, on 04 Oct 2008
Hi Sheryl, thanks for this. I’m back home now after a very long delay at Heathrow
We are really concerned for the safety of our friends but at the same time it’s really something that they have stayed on to look after the park despite the conflict. The new gorilla site is very sexy - I’m sure it’ll do well. It will of course abate in time - look at how Uganda and Rwanda have recovered - both countries are now really cashing in on gorilla tourism.
Lucia B, on 04 Oct 2008
I am now totally confused. If WildlifeDirect has no presence in DR Congo, and no agreement with ICCN - how on earth can you take over the blog that the Rangers were writing? Those same Rangers that are in the line of fire day in and day out. I believe there is potentially fraudulent activity now that the Rangers are no longer posting - how on earth do we know these monies are going to the field? I am going to cancel my donation.
Lucia B, on 04 Oct 2008
And it strikes me that this is like writing in someone else’s diary. Totally unethical. Dr Richard Leakey - your name is being sullied.
sheryl, washington, dc, on 04 Oct 2008
Lucia B, I can’t believe you’re serious. Are you trying to start a flame war of some kind or do you just misunderstand this entire situation? Did you read this part of Paula’s post: “… WildlifeDirect will continue to support gorilla conservation efforts by maintaining this blog and raising funds to continue support the rangers in the field.
To date we have sent over $400,000 to the Virunga National Park from funds raied on this blog which has helped significantly in keeping the rangers on the ground. Thank you all for your support.”
So, where did you get the idea that WLD has “no presence” in DRC and “no agreement” with ICCN? As for that fraudulent comment, you are completely out of line. No one is blogging here under the guise of Diddy or Innocent or Emmanuel - that’s very clear. You’ve made some wild assumptions and seem to be intentionally stirring up trouble. Stop it.
s.
paula, on 04 Oct 2008
Just to set the record straight and inform all readers, WildlifeDirect has partnership agreements with several field based organizations in the Congo through whom all donations have been passed. We aim to continue raising funds for the Virunga Park and mountain gorillas in general which is in desperately needed. We believe that the more awareness and support that we can generate the better. Thanks
Lucia B, on 04 Oct 2008
Perhaps I am wrong Sheryl and WildlifeDirect can put me right. I had understood from a post about 2 weeks ago that WildlifeDirect is a platform for blogging - and a great one at that and I love reading all the different blogs here. But they do not have a presence in DRC or an agreement with ICCN to work in Virunga. So I just think it is a bit odd that they are raising money themselves. All the other blogs are raising money for their own work. But WildlifeDirect doesn’t actually have any of their own work in Virunga. On their own website it says they are a small team all in Kenya I think. Or do they? I am maybe wrong. But I would really like to know. I don’t want to stir up trouble. But it is unclear. Falta claridad as we say.
sheryl, washington, dc, on 04 Oct 2008
As Paula just posted a few minutes ago, “WildlifeDirect has partnership agreements with several field based organizations in the Congo through whom all donations have been passed. We aim to continue raising funds for the Virunga Park and mountain gorillas in general which is in desperately needed. We believe that the more awareness and support that we can generate the better.”
I mean, really.
s.
Maina, on 04 Oct 2008
Lucia, it is quite unfortunate that you should think that this is fraud. We have discussed here at WildlifeDirect and agreed that we should continue supporting gorillas and the rangers in Congo, because whether you and I like it or not, The gorillas in Congo, and the rangers, are the ones that need most support. They are in a war zone for Mandela’s sake. If Diddy, Innocent, Samantha, Emmanuel and others can raise money through Gorilla.cd and we raise more money through this blog, then wouldn’t there be more resources to help gorillas and rangers?
The assertion that Dr Leakey’s name is being “sullied” is not very kind. WildlifeDirect’s policy is to transfer all donations to the field, less only of bank fees. That policy has not, and will not change.
admin, on 04 Oct 2008
Readers, we regret to inform you that Lucia B is a pseudonym for someone who is obviously trying to damage WLD’s reputation. The same IP address has been used by a person who we know and who obviously would like to appear to be a donor but in fact is not. We will not reveal this persons’ identity but we politely request that the person who calls themself ‘Lucia B’ (and other names) refrains from making such attacks which are clearly not in good faith.
admin, on 04 Oct 2008
Readers, we regret to inform you that Lucia B is a pseudonym for someone who is obviously trying to damage WLD’s reputation. The same IP address has been used by a person who we know and who obviously would like to appear to be a donor but in fact is not. We will not reveal this persons’ identity but we politely request that the person who calls themself ‘Lucia B’ (and other names) refrains from making such attacks which are clearly not in good faith.
sheryl, washington, dc, on 04 Oct 2008
Wow. Just … wow. Trolling to alienate people who care about mountain gorilla conservation for some misguided idealism or petty disagreements will only hurt the gorillas and the rangers. My apologies for feeding the troll; it won’t happen again.
s.
Lisa, California, on 04 Oct 2008
This is just a true shame. I’m so sorry for all that is happening. As if the Rangers on the ground don’t have enough to worry about, with getting their families out of harms way and doing the very difficult task of protecting Virunga National Park, all in a war zone, for that matter. I agree with Sheryl and Maina. This is pity garbage that has no place here. Lisa
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