Kindu, March 21, 2024 – A controversial decision made by the interim governor Afani Idrissa Mangala of Maniema has sparked outrage in civil society, triggering a storm of protests and concerns about the preservation of wildlife in the region.
The tension is rising as the governor grants a 45-day moratorium to the Parrot Operators Association to evacuate the 400 parrots it holds. This decision, made on March 18, has caused an outcry among environmentalists and protectors of endangered species.
Mr. Stéphane Kamundala, president of civil society in Maniema, strongly condemned this action, emphasizing that the moratorium goes against the International Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), a crucial international agreement to which the DRC is a party. He warned that this decision could potentially destabilize the entire sector of conservation of protected animals in the DRC.
Civil society in Maniema, exasperated by this situation, publicly demanded that the governor revoke his decision, warning him of the consequences of his actions. Mr. Kamundala clearly stated that the association would consider the governor as an “enemy of Congolese wildlife” if he persisted in this path.
Furthermore, civil society has called for the intervention of the central government, urging the Minister of the Environment to take immediate measures to protect the parrots of Maniema.
In the face of this growing controversy, the future of the parrots and other endangered species in Maniema remains uncertain. Environmentalists and conservation advocates are redoubling their efforts to raise awareness and pressure the authorities to preserve the region’s natural wealth.
The international community is watching with concern the development of this situation, as the world’s eyes turn to Maniema, awaiting a resolution that will guarantee the protection and preservation of its exceptional wildlife.
This decision by the governor has triggered a major environmental crisis in Maniema, jeopardizing the region’s rich biological diversity. It remains to be seen whether calls to action will be heard and if concrete measures will be taken to safeguard Congolese wildlife, now more than ever threatened by conflicting interests.
By Franck Zongwe Lukama