Fueling Change

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Mar 01 2008 | By: admin

ICCN advanced force joins forces with FARDC
There is some good new on the charcoal interdiction front. Ephrem was present a few days when Robert Muir of FZS, ICCN, and high-ranking members of FARDC
(Forces Armées de la Republic Democratic du Congo) met to work out a plan for working together to stop military involvement in the illegal charcoal trade. The FARDC Commander in Chief in Goma authorized a joint patrol with the 14 members of the Elite ranger force, led by Aloma Major. A clear order has been made to arrest all military personnel found to be involved in the illegal charcoal trade. Apparently, the original edict to stop military involvement, mentioned in one of my recent posts, is starting to have an impact. Ephrem reports that no military trucks have crossed the checkpoint during the three last days.

Joining forces: Rob Muir of FZS meets with High Commanders of FARDC and ICCN Commanders at a meeting in Kibati


Major Poka briefing ICCN Advanced Force, Kibati patrol post rangers, and Military Police

Working to implement the decision to set up joint FARDC and ICCN patrols to stop military involvement in the illegal charcoal trade

Activity in Eastern Virunga NP
The charcoal traffic to Rwanda has also been slowed thanks to a deployment of soldiers along Congolese boarder. Part of this surge in troop levels was due to U.S. President Bush’s visit to Rwanda. It is interesting to note that Bush talked about Darfur, but made no mention of the DRC and the loss of 5.5 million lives since 1998, despite being virtually next door. In addition to transporting charcoal to Rwanda, traffickers also act as mail carriers, ferrying mail between FDLR rebels and their friends and relatives in Rwanda. The FDLR (Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda) or Interahamwe has been based in eastern Congo since they were run out of Rwanda after the 1994 genocide.

Activity in Southern and Western Virunga NP
Because of the increased interdiction effort in the Nyamulagira sector on the eastern side of Virunga NP, people are now cutting more charcoal on the southern and western side. While the peace agreement was being forged in Goma, there was no military deployment in the park, so the odd adage, “While the cat is away, the mice will play,” applied perfectly. In this area, though, these new arrivals have to contend with Laurent Nkunda’s rebels who control these sectors and who are involved in illegal charcoal production themselves.

Caught: This trucker tried to hide charcoal under a load of potatoes

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