More than a hundred members of local communities from the Idjwi North and South territories, located on the shores of Lake Kivu, have recently been informed by the Association for the Conservation of the Environment and Human Rights (ACEDH) about the need to ensure their right to information and participation in the process of exploiting the lake’s gas blocks.
This initiative aims to amplify their voices in response to what they describe as an illegal and fraudulent procedure in the management of the region’s natural resources. The context of this mobilization raises critical questions about the legality and transparency of gas exploitation at Lake Kivu.
ACEDH, an organization dedicated to environmental protection and human rights, has highlighted several irregularities in the process of exploiting the Lake Kivu gas blocks. According to the association, the process of awarding and selling these gas blocks allegedly violated Articles 7, 8, and 9 of the environmental protection law in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These articles stipulate requirements for transparency and public consultation, which, according to ACEDH, have not been adhered to.
Furthermore, ACEDH accuses the government of committing fraud in the sale of the gas blocks by not following the provisions outlined in the current hydrocarbons code in the DRC. These accusations raise concerns about the compliance of exploitation practices with established legal and environmental standards.
In response to this situation, members of the local communities have drafted a memorandum that they plan to submit to the presidency. This document requests the Head of State to ensure the respect of the rights of affected communities and to review the exploitation process to guarantee its legality and transparency. The signing of this memorandum has garnered significant support among local residents, demonstrating their determination to influence decisions regarding their natural resources.
The mobilization of the Idjwi North and South local communities to assert their rights raises important questions about the governance of natural resources and the protection of local populations’ rights in the DRC. If the allegations of fraud and illegality are confirmed, they could not only impact the communities’ trust in government institutions but also have repercussions on the future of exploitation projects at Lake Kivu. The response from the authorities and the consideration of local concerns will be crucial in determining whether the management of gas resources can adhere to legal and environmental standards.
By Franck Zongwe Lukama
Great activity.
As a climate activist gaz exploitation must take end in Kivu Lake.
We had organizing this street march in order to awereness sensitization to local community about fossil fuel exploitation