Fighting Polio in Africa--Featuring Dr.Akukwe from George Washington University in DC

Jackson Muneza Mvunganyi


Renewed fighting between Congolese government forces and rebels threaten gorilla habitat


Heavy fighting between DR Congo's army and rebels loyal to dissident General Laurent Nkunda broke out today in areas around the Gorilla Sector in Virunga National Park. According to the Park spokesperson Samantha Newport, fighting has been ongoing for all day Thursday with motor and grenada attacks “heard miles away from the National Park” She adds that the latest fighting is threatening the lives of the gorillas, which in the past have been killed during such conflicts. Mortar and grenade fire have been exchanged non-stop all day between the army and the rebels, the reverberrations of which can be heard in the park and the Gorilla Sector. De Merode said at present there was no intention to evacuate the Rangers but that if the situation worsened they would leave the park station that is in close proximity to the fighting. Newport says that last year the area around the Park was attacked resulting in the death of 10 mountain gorillas. She adds that trafficers and “charcoal mafia” who trade in bush meat and charcoal also endanger the gorillas. “ The war makes it increasingly hard for game rangers to track down poachers” says a statement released by her organization today. In the press statement, the director of the Virunga National Park Emmanuel de Merode said that the latest fighting undermined “efforts to resume our work in the Gorilla Sector” It is almost 1 year to the day since this conflict started, but we are as determined as ever to get back in. It is critical that we know the status of the mountain gorillas," said de Merode. According to the statement, over 150 Rangers have been killed in the last 10 years protecting the 5 parks of eastern DRC, a region affected by a 10-year civil war.