225,129 voices call for peace for Congo’s people and nature

The habitat of gorillas is being destroyed, hundreds of thousands of people are being displaced, and a climate of insecurity and violence prevails. This is the reality in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). To raise awareness among the public and politicians, we joined forces with MitAfrika e.V. and RIAO-RDC to hand over petitions with 225,129 signatures in Berlin and Kinshasa.

The rainforests of the Congo Basin are crucial for climate protection and the preservation of biodiversity. Second only to the Amazon rainforest in terms of area, they store enormous amounts of carbon, are home to endangered species such as gorillas, bonobos, and okapis, and support millions of people.

Yet where violence, lawlessness, and hardship prevail, nature faces severe peril. Since the rebel army M23 conquered large parts of the provinces of North and South Kivu, vast areas of forest have been destroyed. The driving forces behind this are neighboring Rwanda and the EU’s hunger for raw materials.

We launched three petitions to illuminate this crisis from distinct perspectives: from political calls for peace and activist protection to critiques of the economic causes of violence and the Global North’s accountability.

Together with our allies at the German NGO MitAfrika e.V., we handed over the 225,129 signatures to the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the EU representation in Berlin. At the same time, our partner organization RIAO-RDC presented the petitions at the presidential palace in Kinshasa.

Mathias Rittgerott, Africa Campaigner at Rainforest Rescue:

We are very concerned about the people and the environment in eastern Congo and want to shake up politicians and the public: We must act!”

“The government in Kinshasa describes the country as a ‘land of solutions’ to the climate crisis. It must live up to this by effectively protecting the rainforests. Germany has been supporting the Kahuzi-Biega National Park for many years and is one of the Congo’s largest donor countries.”

“The Congolese government must do everything in its power to improve the situation and must not hide behind empty phrases about how difficult the circumstances are. The EU must also act: it must terminate the raw materials agreement with Kigali to stop the plundering of coltan, cobalt, and gold in the Congo by neighboring Rwanda!”

“People are fed up with the EU putting economic interests above people and the environment.”

Heinz Rothenpieler, Vice President of MitAfrika e.V.:

We are horrified to hear from our Congolese partners that crimes against the population are continuing. People are being attacked, robbed, mutilated with machetes, and murdered. The perpetrators are often rebels such as M23 and Wazalendo and other criminals. And all of this goes unpunished!”

“The crimes against nature are particularly dramatic in Kahuzi Biega National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: without the protection it once enjoyed, the forest and its wildlife are being destroyed, thousands of ancient trees are being felled and turned into charcoal, and the animals are being hunted... It’s a disaster!”

“Congolese environmentalists are helpless, and are facing death threats. Only pressure from the international community and the responsible governments can help stop these crimes!”

Jean François Mombia Atuku, Director, RIAO-RDC, Kinshasa:

Nature is under terrible threat from the exploitation of resources, violence, and the plundering of our country by the M23 and Rwanda.”

“All reports from our members point to the severe persecution of environmental and human rights activists and the intensification of the misery and suffering of our people. This is happening before the eyes of the international community, the European Union, the United Nations, and other major powers such as Germany.”

“With these petitions, we want to ensure that these parties take more effective action to bring peace to the DRC and put an immediate end to the arbitrary and unbridled exploitation of our resources. The DRC must not give away its resources for free to the powers of this world or their allies.”

Josué Aruna, Director of Congo Basin Conservation Society CBCS-Network in Bukavu:

If peace is threatened by particular interests, the Congo Basin will lose its value as an ecological center for the future stability of the planet.”

Josué Aruna is in hiding for safety reasons and says of the dangers faced by environmentalists and human rights activists:

“In this very critical context, closing our eyes and ears instead of supporting threatened environmentalists is globally irresponsible. It sacrifices the lives of those who defend the future of humanity.”

A biologist from Bukavu, who must remain anonymous for security reasons:

“We are deeply shocked, especially by the destruction of the resources of Kahuzi-Biega National Park. It is truly heartbreaking to see how this forest is being destroyed and how animals are being hunted.”

Addressing Europeans, he says:

“Only you can save us from this situation, because without you, the hostilities with the destructive forces will continue. Please help us by putting pressure on those who have put us in this difficult position.”

Petitions

Links to the petitions can be found here:

DRC: Stop harassing Congo’s environmental defenders

DRC: People and nature in eastern Congo need peace!

DRC: Europe’s green transition must not cost Congo’s blood and forests!

Further information on the situation in the DRC and quotes can be found here:

Stop the spiral of violence, resource plundering and environmental destruction!