Bapakombé, August 30, 2025 – In a region both strategically important and ecologically vulnerable, at the doorstep of Virunga National Park, 35 local environmental defenders—including women, local chiefs, and representatives of Indigenous peoples—gathered in Bapakombé (Beni territory) for a consultation and mobilization session focused on climate and biodiversity issues. The objective: to strengthen their capacity to confront the growing challenges posed by fossil fuel exploitation, land conflicts, and the preservation of their livelihoods.
The choice of Bapakombé for this event was no coincidence. The village lies in an ecologically sensitive zone, bordering the Virunga National Park (PNVi), and forms part of the Kivu-Kinshasa green corridor. It is also home to Indigenous communities whose role in forest preservation is widely recognized. However, this region faces multiple challenges, including persistent insecurity that has led to large-scale population displacement, putting increased pressure on natural resources and arable land. In this context, the mobilization of local environmental defenders is becoming an urgent necessity to counter extractive projects and strengthen community resilience.
Organized by ACEDH (Congolese Action for Human Rights Education), the gathering was held outdoors on the grounds of the local Mwami (traditional chief), under the leadership of the local chief, Mr. Achu Taibu, a committed environmental advocate. The event served as a unique platform for exchange, where participants were informed of their environmental and consultative rights, particularly in the face of oil and mining projects with potentially devastating impacts.
“It is essential that communities understand they have the right to reject any activity that threatens their land and environment,” emphasized Me Olivier Ndoole, a member of the ACEDH team.
According to him, the extraction of fossil and mineral resources represents a direct threat to the livelihoods of rural communities, which rely primarily on agriculture, livestock, and foraging.
Me Eric Kambale highlighted the ongoing discrimination against Indigenous Pygmy peoples, who have historically played a key role in forest protection. He praised their invaluable contribution to biodiversity conservation, while denouncing the threats and intimidation faced by local defenders. ACEDH reaffirmed its commitment to providing legal support to any individual threatened or prosecuted for defending the environment.
Several cases of judicial harassment were shared by Me Jean-Claude Bashangwa, illustrating the daily risks faced by grassroots environmental activists. The organization also stressed the importance of early warning in the face of threats, lamenting the fact that many defenders are unaware of how to report violence against them.
Local chief Achu Taibu also spoke, presenting a picture of the local reality. He highlighted recurring conflicts between local communities and the PNVi administration regarding land boundaries, stating that the recent creation of a joint provincial commission by the Governor of North Kivu could help resolve these disputes. He also emphasized the urgent need for legal support in the face of frequent military and judicial intimidation targeting environmental defenders in his jurisdiction.
During the session, participants raised several questions, particularly regarding ACEDH’s role in supporting land conflict cases, the situation of Indigenous peoples displaced from their ancestral lands, and the impact of cacao monoculture. This last point sparked serious concern: the gradual replacement of food crops with cacao, according to ACEDH, could worsen food insecurity and threaten the region’s food sovereignty.
The consultation, praised for its inclusive participation (gender balance, Indigenous presence, and a diversity of social backgrounds), helped identify the key needs of local defenders. ACEDH emphasized that this is a time for vigilance and empowerment. Communities must be consulted before any project that may have a major environmental or social impact.
The session concluded with a clear promise: to strengthen synergies between local actors and support organizations like ACEDH, in order to collectively defend a healthy environment and sustainable livelihoods. This initiative is part of a broader movement of local resistance to extractivist and marginalizing agendas, in a region still grappling with insecurity and the presence of armed groups.
By kilalopress