Gorilla Protection

About the Mountain Gorillas

Rebels retreat from Rumangabo

Category: Threats | Date: Oct 10 2008 | By: admin

The United Nations Mission in DR Congo has informed the French Press Agency AFP that rebel forces have withdrawn from the military base in Rumangabo which they took following fierce fighting with the army.

“At the request of MONUC, the armed elements of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) have withdrawn from the Rumangabo military camp,” the UN mission (MONUC) have said.

The dangerous situation at Rumangabo has forced about 50 rangers and their families to be evacuated to Goma where a temporary camp has beeen established using sticks and tarps. This is a set back for gorilla conservation and speaking to ITV news Innocent is quoted as saying “Nowadays in our forest it is very difficult to work because there are different groups of army who are in the park. You can see the FDLR, the Congolese army, the CNDP, it is very difficult to work,”. In the same article Emmanuel confirms that negotiations will continue to regain access to the Gorilla sector which has been in control of CNDP rebels and out of bounds for ICCN rangers for more than a year.

According to AFP “The Congolese president made a nationwide television appeal on Thursday for a renewed campaign against Nkunda, who claims to be protecting members of his Tutsi ethnic group in the region” but the United Nations has “promised to do everything possible to stop Congo’s eastern conflict from becoming a wider war after the DR Congo government accused Rwanda of sending troops over the border, a U.N. official said on Friday” to Reuters.

Tags: gorillas, ICCN, MONUC, rumangabo, Virunga National Park

6 Responses to “Rebels retreat from Rumangabo”

sheryl, washington, dc, on 10 Oct 2008

Finally, some good news. I hope the rangers and their families can return to their homes soon. I can’t imagine how miserable it must be to live in a tent made of sticks and tarps.

Theresa, on 10 Oct 2008

A small but positive step. Will the rangers and their families be able to return now? This situation is saddening and angering. Why cant people just live in peace? Sometimes I think God made his biggest mistake when he created humans.

Annie, on 10 Oct 2008

Thank GOD!!!!!!!!! I hope everyone and all animals are ok!

Christie, on 11 Oct 2008

Yes, finally, indeed! I know restoring the rangers’ control won’t
be easy or immediate, and that Nkunda is renowned for his
backpedaling, but these are very hopeful news. Thank you so much
for keeping us updated!

Mark, on 12 Oct 2008

This is great news.

I was wondering how it worked between this site and gorilla.cd as they haven’t really updated on this. Do you get your news from the people on the ground there? Or do you get it through their blog like everyone else?

And I was wondering if it makes more sense to donate here to help gorilla protection, or to donate directly on their website? Where are you guys based?

Keep up the great work.

paula, on 12 Oct 2008

Thanks for all your comments everyone. It’s still too early to know if this is really good news, there are rebels all around the Rumangabo station and in the hills. The rangers and their families are still camped at Goma. Mark, the Gorilla.cd site is the official site for the Virunga National Park, they no longer post here but we are continuing to support the conservation efforts in Congo by bringing news from that site and other sources including sources on the ground. The more attention and funds that the situation gets the better. We are based in Nairobi as we always have been, and funds raised on this blog will continue to support gorilla conservation in the Congo. Of course it is up to you to decide where to make a donation, WildlifeDirect is a USA registered 501(c)3 charity while donations on the official Virunga site go through ACF a UK registered organization. I hope that answers your question and we look forward to hearing more from you.

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