6 MORE RANGERS KILLED AS VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK REMAINS A CONFLICT HOTSPOT
(Posted 10th January 2021)
News are coming in of another deadly attack on the rangers of Virunga National Park with at least 6 dead, leaving others injured. At least two of the attackers were also killed, with initial findings attributing the violent attack to the Mai Mai militias.
The attack took place earlier today, Sunday 10th January 2021 in the Rutshuru area of the park.
Over 200 rangers have lost their lives since the park was inaugurated about 96 years ago, making it one of the most dangerous locations and assignments for rangers.
Virunga is one of the world’s greatest biodiversity hotspots and the park administration and conservationists from around the world have been battling attempts for many years to open the park to test drilling and exploration activities for mining and oil and gas production. It is not known if such attacks have any connection to such conservation efforts.
Links to past articles about the Virunga violence:
https://atcnews.org/2018/04/10/virunga-more-rangers-killed-by-militias/
https://atcnews.org/2020/04/25/killer-militias-in-eastern-congo-remain-active-covid19-or-not/
