In Ituri, in the north-east of the DRC, the integrity of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (RFO) is threatened by mining. This reserve occupies about a fifth of the forest of the Ituri province. The provincial government launched a mission on 23 July in the Mambasa territory to verify the boundaries of the reserve. This mission, according to a group of whistleblowers, seeks instead to legalize mining in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.
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With our correspondent in Kisangani, Joseph Kahongo
With an area of almost 14,000 square kilometers, the Okapi Wildlife Reserve of theIturinortheast of the DRCis often the scene of illegal mining. A mission to verify the limits of the reserve was therefore necessary, according to the spokesman for the military governor, Lieutenant-Colonel Jules Ngogo:
” This mission consists of demarcating the boundaries of the RFO (the Okapi wildlife reserve) because some people are exploiting, without even knowing if they are on the RFO or in a prohibited zone. All this constitutes our battlefield to first demarcate the RFO zone and allow everyone to do their work freely. “.
A hidden objective
For the associations that raised the alarm about the case of this reserve, this mission of the provincial authorities has another goal, to legalize themining in this protected area. This anonymous whistleblower group highlights the fact that the verification mission comes two months after the RFO administration refused a request for mining in the Bapela village located within the reserve.
According to the spokesman for the military governor, it is too early to judge this mission; we should wait for its conclusions.
” We will know after this mission. We will know who exploited where and when, and where some should not exploit, because the RFO is a large institution. We must now use the archives to allow a concerted delimitation.”
Created in 1991, the Ituri Faunal Reserve contains not only the endemic Okapi animal, but also 376 species of rare birds and several other protected animals, according to UNESCO, which has included it on its list of world heritage sites.
Also listen toThe Okapi, the discreet treasure of the DRC