Sanctuaries Unaffected by Political Unrest
in Democratic Republic of Congo
Tensions Remain High As At Least 26 Protesters Are Killed
By Natasha Tworoski
Tensions have been high this week in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as December 19th marked the end of President Kabila’s second presidential term. The DRC constitution states a president can only serve two terms, but Kabila has been stating for over a year that it would not be possible to organize an election until 2018. Despite international pressure from the United States and European Union, the current government in DRC has remained firm that Kabila will not be stepping down at this time.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has never had a peaceful transition of power. Many are concerned that by remaining in office, President Kabila can trigger another international war like the brutal conflict that ravaged the country from 1996 to 2003, when millions were killed.
On Tuesday, at least 26 Congolese people were killed by government troops while protesting in major cities of DRC, including the capital of Kinshasa. A strong military presence, as well as a ban on protesting, has forced most citizens to stay home, with businesses and schools closing for the immediate future. The number of protestors injured and arrested remains unknown, but is believed by human rights organizations to be very high. Government shutdown of most social media within the country has prevented citizens from reaching out to the international community.
Protests in many cities, including Kinshasa, have led to 26 deaths since President Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo refused to step down after his term ended.
Opposition leaders continue to encourage peaceful protests and remain hopeful that an election can be arranged early in 2017. Opposition leader Freddy Mbuyamu Matungulu is insistent that an intermittent leader must step in for now and that Kabila should step down immediately.
There are three PASA member sanctuaries located throughout the DRC. At this time, all three are believed to be safe and continuing to provide life-saving care to great apes and monkeys who were rescued from the illegal wildlife trade and the bushmeat trade. Our thoughts are with them.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the only country is the world where bonobos, a great ape species closely related to chimpanzees can be found. The country is also home to eastern gorillas and chimpanzees.
Next Posts
We All Get By With a Little Help from Our Friends
We All Get By With a Little Help from Our Friends It took a human to show Nina how to care for her new son. By Natasha Tworoski When humans prepare to have their first baby, it can be a nerve-wracking time filled with uncertainty. Fortunately, there are countless...
Celebrate the Unknown Great Ape on World Bonobo Day!
Celebrate the Unknown Great Ape on World Bonobo Day! Our closest relatives desperately need you to save them from extinction. There may only be 15,000 left. By Natasha Tworoski Finally! A reason for everyone, single or not, to celebrate February 14th! 2017 will mark...
How Can You Reduce Climate Change by Helping Protect Great Apes?
How Can You Reduce Climate Change by Helping Protect Great Apes? New Data Show that Climate Change Is Causing Massive Tree Die-Offs in Africa By Natasha Tworoski It’s hard to find a place on the planet where scientific evidence isn’t showing global climate change...
Groundbreaking Ivory Ban in China Signifies Good News for All Wildlife
Groundbreaking Ivory Ban in China Signifies Good News for All Wildlife Ban Includes Closure of 34 Processing Factories and 143 Trade Venues By Natasha Tworoski One of Africa’s most iconic animals, elephants have undergone a devastating surge in poaching in the past...
Bushmeat Crisis
Bushmeat Crisis In West Africa and the Congo Basin, Bushmeat is Now the Leading Threatto Great Apes and Monkeys By Natasha Tworoski While the term “bushmeat” can simply stand for any wild animal killed for the purpose of eating its meat, most often in media it is used...
Empowering Women Through Conservation
Empowering Women Through Conservation Offering Opportunities for Women Is a Responsibility Conservationists Should Consider By Natasha Tworoski Conservation efforts can often carry a despairing feeling of moral conflict, particularly in countries with high levels of...
The Growing Crisis of Great Ape Smuggling
The Growing Crisis of Great Ape Smuggling New Data Shows that Illegal Great Ape Smuggling Is Even More Dire than We Realized By Natasha Tworoski The great ape crisis is rapidly escalating. Eastern gorillas, Western chimpanzees and Bornean orangutans were recently...
The Devastation of Palm Oil is Now Spreading to African Countries
The Devastation of Palm Oil is Now Spreading to African Countries By Natasha Tworoski The overwhelming demand for palm oil is well-known for its horrifying impact in eastern Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia. However, growing demand means...
Protecting Primates in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Protecting Primates in the Democratic Republic of Congo By Natasha Tworoski The Democratic Republic of Congo is home to three PASA sanctuaries: Lola ya Bonobo, JACK (Jeunes Animaux Confisques au Katanga) and the Centre de Rehabilitation des Primates de Lwiro (CRPL)....
Democratic Republic Of Congo: On the Brink of a New Wave of Violence?
Democratic Republic Of Congo: On the Brink of a New Wave of Violence? By Natasha Tworoski A country that has faced a long history of violence and political instability, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is teetering on the brink of a new wave of violence. As the...