Thread #Virunga #Congo

It has been established now that 13 elements of Virunga’s quick reaction force have been killed, and several civilians. It’s unclear however, who carried out the raid. https://twitter.com/ethuin/status/1253662943004299265

There are six belligerent forces other than the park’s own operating within reach and theoretically capable to mount an ambish of this type. The FDLR (and in particular its Maccabé special forces) features amongst them but there is not yet any clear evidence. #Virunga #Congo

The management of #Virunga has issued a communiqué claiming its forces were not the principal target. Dozens of pictures taken after the event speak a different language, even though a conclusion would be premature. #Congo

Since #Virunga has established its Quick Reaction Force — an offensive combat unit as compared to the usual park guard — armed clashes have become more pronounced around and in the park. #Congo

These clashes have pit QRF units against armed groups and civilian populations (some of which rally with armed groups in order to access the park) and thus led to a deterioration of security. #Virunga #Congo

Notable examples include the kidnapping of two British tourists by the FDLR’s Maccabé unit two years ago (the park bck then claimed it were “local bandits”). #Virunga #Congo

Now the overall story is complicated — the park want to do nature conservation, its detractors claim access to ancestral lands (the park itself is a colonial creation). All of that in the midst of ongoing, cyclical armed conflicts. #Virunga #Congo

Hence, this is not so much a Manichaen story of heroes and villains, but much more a murky and messy one in which an extraordinary number of factors playing a role. #Congo, incl #Virunga, deserves that our analyses keep that in mind.

In conclusion, RIP to those killed in the attack. #Virunga #Congo

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