227,275 signatures for peace for Congo’s people and nature

The rainforests of the Congo Basin are crucial to protecting the climate and preserving biodiversity. They store immense amounts of carbon, provide habitat for endangered species such as gorillas, bonobos, and okapis, and are home to millions of people.

Deforestation and resource exploitation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have reached unimaginable proportions. According to Global Forest Watch, around 590,000 hectares of primary forest were destroyed in 2024 alone – an area nearly four times the size of Greater London. This devastation is made possible and intensified by violence, lawlessness, and poverty.

Over the past two years, we have launched three petitions that highlight different aspects of this tragedy – from the political demand for peace to calls for protection for activists and criticism of the economic causes of violence and the responsibility of the Global North.

During a nearly two-hour conversation with three BMZ experts, we discussed in depth how the German government can strengthen forest protection and human rights in the Congo Basin, the DRC, and Rwanda, where the shortcomings lie, and how they might be addressed. We agreed that the Congo Basin plays a crucial role in protecting the climate and biodiversity, that Central Africa does not receive enough attention, and that the DRC and Rwanda are key actors.

In our discussion of the petition “DRC: Europe’s green transition must not cost Congo’s blood and forests!”, it became clear that while the BMZ views Rwanda very critically, it does not consider the complete termination of the partnership agreement on critical raw materials – as we have demanded – to be an effective solution.

We had previously delivered the petitions to the DRC embassy and the EU representation in Berlin on October 29. Following that, we held a background discussion with the BMZ.

Mathias Rittgerott, Africa campaigner at Rainforest Rescue, says:

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

“The German government must use all the means at its disposal to improve the situation. The EU must act, too: To stop the plunder of coltan, cobalt, and gold in Congo by neighboring Rwanda, the Union must terminate the raw materials agreement with Kigali.”

“People are fed up with the EU putting economic interests ahead of communities and the environment.”

Jean François Mombia Atuku, director of the human rights organization RIAO-RDC in Kinshasa:

Nature is terribly threatened by the exploitation of resources, the violence, and the plundering of our country by M23 and Rwanda.”

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

“With these petitions, we aim to push these actors to take stronger action so that peace can be restored in the DRC and the arbitrary, unrestrained exploitation of our resources is stopped immediately. The DRC must not give away its resources for free to the powers of this world or their allies.”

Josué Aruna, director for the DRC of the environmental organization Congo Basin Conservation Society CBCS-Network in Bukavu:

When peace is endangered by self-serving interests, the Congo Basin loses its value as an ecological center for the future stability of the planet.”

For security reasons, Josué Aruna is in hiding. He says about the dangers faced by environmental and human rights defenders:

“Turning a blind eye and a deaf ear in this critical situation instead of supporting threatened environmental defenders is a global act of irresponsibility. 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, particularly by the destruction of the resources of Kahuzi-Biega National Park. It is heartbreaking to see this forest being destroyed and wildlife being hunted.”

Addressing Europeans, he says:

“Only you can save us from this situation, because without your help, the hostilities with the destructive forces will continue. Please help us by putting pressure on those who have driven us into this desperate situation.”

About the petitions

We will continue to promote these petitions even after handing them over, as their goals have not yet been achieved.

DRC: Stop harassing Congo's environmental defenders!

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

We have concluded this petition with the handover:

DRC: People and nature in eastern Congo need peace!

For more information on the situation in the DRC and additional quotes, please visit:

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