Voix du Paysan: Training and informing citizens as a commitment to social and climate justice.
In Eastern DRC, environmental activists are facing a disturbing wave of threats and violence. Since 2024, and more intensely in early 2025, several climate justice advocates have been targeted by unidentified individuals. Their “crime”: denouncing illegal exploitation of natural resources, poaching of protected species, and rampant deforestation in and around Virunga and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks.
Despite these parks being listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the presence of armed groups and state inaction continue to fuel the destruction of vital biodiversity. Brave voices like Crispin Ngakani have spoken out to document and expose these ecological crimes. Yet today, many have been forced into hiding or exile, faced with growing insecurity and a complete lack of protection from authorities.
These repeated attacks pose a serious threat not only to environmental defenders but also to the ecological future of the DRC. Silencing these activists blocks crucial information about environmental damage and undermines conservation efforts. Their safety, their right to speak out, and their role in protecting ecosystems must be urgently recognized and defended.
The Editorial Team
