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ENVIRONMENTALISTS AROUND THE world have condemned the shooting of a Belgian conservationist who has struggled to protect Africa’s mountain gorillas in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo.
Emmanuel de Merode, director of the Virunga National Park in the DR Congo’s war scarred North Kivu province, was attacked on Tuesday as he travelled alone by jeep from the regional capital Goma to a nearby nature conservation centre.
A colleague said he was attacked after filing a report into the actions of a British oil company, SOCO International, which had sought to prospect in an area overlapping the park.
“This is the first time the director de Merode has been directly attacked. We don’t yet know the motive for this attack,” Norbert Mushenzi, the director’s assistant, told AFP.
“Mr de Merode had just filed a report with the public prosecutor in Goma comprising the results of months – even years – of investigation into SOCO International.
In 2010 SOCO International won a government contract to jointly prospect for oil on a concession overlapping the park’s territory, but Kinshasa later suspended the permit under international pressure.
De Merode, who is around 40, was reportedly rescued by an army patrol and rushed to the Heal Africa hospital in Goma where he underwent surgery to remove bullets.
“He was shot in the stomach and the thorax. He had surgery and is still in intensive care, and according to the surgeon, so far there is hope,” hospital spokesman Ferdinand Mugisho told AFP.
North Kivu province has been ravaged by successive conflicts for more than 20 years.
‘Dedicated conservationist’
The reserve, which covers 800,000 hectares (two million acres) of land on the border with Uganda and Rwanda, has attained worldwide renown for its rare and endangered mountain gorillas.
The attackers did not steal anything from de Merode.
A group of North Kivu environmentalists condemned the attack, which they said was aimed at “discouraging community development and conservation efforts”.
The provincial governor of North Kivu, where Goma is located, visited de Merode in hospital on Wednesday.
“He is lucid, he is talking, and he thanked the army for rescuing him, as well as the doctors who saved him,” Julien Paluku told AFP.
Created in 1925 in the far east of what was then the Belgian Congo, the Virunga park has been declared an “endangered” part of the global heritage by UNESCO.
Poachers and logging teams have damaged the reserve, as elsewhere in Africa, but the park is also criss-crossed by rival armed groups and soldiers, while local people have taken up illegal residence.
The quest for oil is the latest threat to Africa’s most venerable wildlife reserve.
WWF head of conservation Lasse Gustavsson said de Merode was a “dedicated conservationist” who put his life on the line every day to protect the park and the people who depended on it for their livelihoods.
“I know how much Emmanuel loves this park. He continues to be a source of inspiration to those around him and I wish him a swift recovery.”
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Remember his promise to abolish USC?!?!
You’ve been in power ages. You could have done this at any stage. Jog on
25% off plus 25% off the following year is NOT a 50% reduction. It’s 44% from the initial amount. Does anybody bother with maths anymore?
@john murray: To keep his promise it would require a further 34% decrease in Budget 2024 to follow up on the 25% from Budget 2023 in order for a 2-yr decrease of 50% . I am surprised that these people can manage an economy. Juniour cert kids can manage that calculation.
@john murray: True, but it seems that they did not promise a 25% decrease in the second year: rather that they would try to achieve a 50% decrease over the two years – ‘a further 25% reduction’ appears to be the journalist’s (wrong) interpretation.
@Brendan O’Brien: it does in fairness. Back to school for the writer in that case.
@John Murray: Yes.
@john murray: For bonus points, what annual percentage would lead to a 50% reduction over 2 years?
Anybody that thinks Varadkar even remotely cares about them or their children is quite deluded!
Thats great news for families, now do something about the inability to get kids into creche due to a lack of staff and services.
My boss has been told by all the places they looked at are booked out till at least next year so has to resort to paying through the nose for a private babysitter.
Watch the scramble by the usual suspects to get into the childcare business. Next year’s declarations of interest by TDs will make for informative reading..
What if me Granny looks after the kiddos.
Is the “cut” applicable” here ?
“We did it before, and we’ll do it again”
Aboy Leo.
My old nan used to say (not babysitter gran, my other nan) that self praise is no praise. So take heed Leo.
@UCD Trinity: Is that you Stephen Ireland, I thought you had 4 grannies?
I can’t understand why they won’t just give everybody a little by reducing it getting rid of USC & if you if have children they you can use the saving towards childcare if you wish! It’s really unfair to constantly reward those with children more than those who don’t have or want to have children.
Yawn more untruths
How fitting.
Governments should focus on putting money where it is needed most like Childcare, housing and Health. Please do not reduce income tax as the money is needed elsewhere. Also their should be a wealth tax.
Why do people think any government will abolish USC. For one thing it brings in 4 Billion per year, for another it is hard to avoid paying USC as it collected on all income including rental income
Everyone pays USC so it ensures everyone is making some contribution, no matter how small. And finally it is a combination of the PRSI and Health Levy
have your say