Fueling Change

Category: Illegal charcoal trade | Date: Mar 12 2008 | By: admin

Ephrem has supplied this latest report. He sent this report to me in French so I think he is having a good chuckle right now. Here is my best attempt at translating what he said:

Charcoal Interdiction at the Kibati Checkpoint
A few days before the arrival of the ICCN Advanced Force, 200 sacks of charcoal were being seized daily at Kibati. With the Advanced Force now manning the Kibati checkpoint, approximately 70 bags are being seized on a daily basis. Despite this reduction in charcoal coming through Kibati, the charcoal ovens continue to burn inside the Virunga NP.

ICCN Advanced Ranger Force Encounters FDLR
Since the ICCN Advanced Ranger Force made contact with the FDLR, and I mean “contact” in a negative way, they have not been able to conduct any patrols in the gorilla sector. They have essentially been limited to stopping the flow of charcoal across the Kibati checkpoint. Emmanuel will be meeting with members of the UN in New York in the following days to try and secure UN approval for regular joint ICCN-Monuc patrols in the gorilla sector. Because Monuc has considerable firepower and strong air support, their presence on ranger patrols will all but guarantee that the rangers will be allowed back into the park to do their vital work. For now, though, the rangers must wait.

Flow of Illegal Charcoal to Rwanda Reduced
The flow of charcoal coming out of the park and going into Rwanda has diminished with enforcement measures taken on the Rwandan side. Actually, it was the security measures put in place during President Bush’s trip to Rwanda that slowed the charcoal traffic. Although Bush is long gone, the security measures continue to pay dividends. The Rwandan government remains intent on controlling the flow of information between the FDLR and their contacts in Rwanda, which is actually beneficial for the Virunga NP because it constrains the FDLR. Meanwhile, charcoal trafficking continues in the camps for displaced people, which are becoming even more numerous around the park. At this time, there are camps at Rumangabo, Bushenge, Rugari, and Kibumba.

Illegal Charcoal Production on the Rise at Kirolirwe
Charcoal production is now concentrated in the Kirolirwe sector. In December 2007, charcoal production was not active at Kirolirwe because of the war and because the route to Mwesso was cut off. This inactivity was short lived. The combined effect of the conference in Goma and blocking of the Goma – Kibumba – Rumangabo axis caused the cost of charcoal to rocket to $25 a sack, which attracted new players into the market. Sadly, these new players were none other than Nkunda’s National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP). Now, there is a new charcoal mafia in the park and here is how it works:

1. CNDP rebels secure existing charcoal ovens and hire the local charcoal makers

2. CNDP hires supervisors to oversee production operations

3. All charcoal produced is put into sacks and warehoused in CNDP-guarded depots at Kirolirwe

4. CNDP sells loads directly to merchants who come form Goma. It is an efficient and streamlined operation that cuts out the middlemen and maximizes profits for CNDP.

5. In Goma, charcoal is sold out of depots at Alanine and TMK

Ephrem is going to do more research to find out the quantity and price of the charcoal being sold at these depots. He hopes to infer from this how many CNDP are involved in this illegal trafficking operation.

Nkunda Works the Supply-Demand Curve to His Advantage
The charcoal embargo across the north has affected both the FARDC and the FDLR, however, Nkunda’s CNDP has profited handsomely from their activity at Kirolirwe. This is because the embargo has constricted supply and increased demand. The natural fallout from such a market condition is increased prices. Now Nkunda is making money hand over fist with mountain gorilla tours at Jomba and charcoal production at Kirolirwe.

Filling in the Gaps
It is imperative that other checkpoints be established across the southwest axis around Mugunga. However, this must be meticulously planned because these measures will dramatically reduce Nkunda’s cash flow coming from charcoal. Again, there is a need for Monuc participation because their presence will deter attacks on the checkpoints that prevent illegal charcoal from making it to market.