Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
5 September 2008
Kivu — Over 1,000 Congolese army troops and their families, some 6,000 people, have left Virunga National Park and moved outside the protected area in an effort to reduce human presence and preserve the flora and fauna of Africa's oldest national park, also a World Heritage Site.
According to a report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the decision to re-deploy the army troops, about 10 percent of the total number in North Kivu, came after intense negotiations between Virunga National Park Director Emmanuel de Merode and General Vainqueur Mayala, the army's commanding officer for the conflict-ridden province.
"De-militarizing Virunga National Park remains our greatest and most difficult challenge. The Congolese National Army has taken the first step, which represents a major breakthrough at a time when the threats to the park have never been greater," said de Merode.
"The occupation of Rwindi park station was strategic," said Colonel David Kitenge of the 8th Military Region. "We had to have a strong presence at Rwindi and other nearby stations to safeguard the main road north of Goma, and to prevent attack by the FDLR and the Mai Mai rebels. Today we wish to support the Congolese Wildlife Authority in their efforts. Human populations, of all kind, are detrimental to environmental conservation."
The Congolese army has approximately 10,000 troops in North Kivu that are stationed throughout the province. Rwindi, a main park station in the centre of Virunga some 130 km north of Goma, had been the army's headquarters in the area since December 2007, when violence in the region escalated. This deployment operation, that does not affect the occupation of the Gorilla Sector by rebels loyal to dissident General Laurent Nkunda, also included the removal of over 200 troops in Vitshumbi, on the southern shores of Lake Edward.
The entire operation took 3 days and required additional trucks and funds for fuel. The total cost of USD 10,000 was covered by WWF, at the request of the Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN).
Virunga National Park which borders on Uganda and Rwanda and covers 8,000 km square, is often used as a hideout and an operating base by armed groups. Africa's oldest national park (established in 1925) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, is home to 200 of the world's mountain gorillas.
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