17 hippo poachers arrested/Further rebel activity in DRC.

January 10th, 2007. Congo Rangers anti-poaching operations are going well, and that in the last three weeks only 3 hippos have been killed, compared to 109 hippo bodies found butchered in the three weeks before the operations started.

 

The rangers are really happy with how things are going and have now made a total of 17 arrests. Many of the poachers have already been transported to Goma where they are awaiting prosecution. The rest are still being questioned at Rwindi ranger station. Once their statements have been taken, they will also be brought to Goma to face the local magistrate, and a long sentence if found guilty.

Meanwhile it sounds like the Mai Mai, feeling the heat, have abandoned their camp at Cyndo. If the Mai Mai really have left, the rangers will go in and dismantle whatever remains of the camp. If they are still there, I hope the rangers makes it back ok.

 

January 22nd update, bad news. The rangers from Lulimbi and Kabaraza have had to flee their stations. This follows threats of an imminent attack on the two stations by Mai Mai and Interehamwe rebel groups. MONUC (UN Mission in the DRC) have been alerted and are on their way now, to assess the situation, but things aren’t looking good.

It is not sure where exactly the rangers have fled to, but recent attacks on Lulimbi and Kabararaza will be fresh in their minds. The last time Kabaraza was attacked, over 300 rebels surrounded the station, killing the two rangers on night watch and launching a vicious attack on the rest of the station with hand held rocket launchers and heavy weapons.

Let’s hope MONUC’s presence acts as a dissuasive measure against such an attack, but the rangers don’t want to take any chances. Quite where they have fled, no one is too sure, but we are all crossing our fingers for them at this time.