February 02, 2026 10:06 am (IST)
Follow us:
DR Congo: UN condemns attack on Virunga National Park director
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): A senior United Nations official on Wednesday condemned the attack against the chief warden of Virunga National Park, and urged the international community to support the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in protecting not only its World Heritage sites but also those who safeguard them.
Irina Bokova, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said she learned with “distress and anger” of the attack on Emmanuel de Merode, who was reportedly wounded when his vehicle came under fire as he was travelling from the eastern city of Goma to the town of Rumangabo.
It is “unacceptable,” she said, that professionals such as those of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) run such risks to protect World Heritage.
“The wardens of ICCN parks demonstrate great courage in their daily work and I urge the authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo to shed light on this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice,” said Bokova.
“I also encourage the international community to support the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s efforts to provide adequate protection for its World Heritage sites and those who look after them.”
The Director-General voiced grave concern over growing violence in the World Heritage sites in DRC, where ICCN personnel have experienced heavy loss of life. Many of its staff have been injured defending Virunga National Park, the Okapi Wildlife Reserve and the other World Heritage sites in the country. In Virunga alone, 140 to 150 wardens have been hit since 1996.
Virunga National Park was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979 for its exceptional biodiversity which includes rare endemic species such as the mountain gorilla.
The site has also been on the List of World Heritage in Danger since 1994 due to the impact of the conflict in the Great Lakes region. The Park is also threatened by petrol prospection projects which UNESCO considers to be incompatible with its World Heritage status.
(UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova. UN Photo/Amanda Voisard)
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Epstein Files: Images show Prince Andrew crouching over woman, spark fresh embarrassment
Sun, Feb 01 2026
Burkina Faso’s military junta bans political parties: What triggered the move and what lies ahead
Sat, Jan 31 2026
Trump threatens 50% tariff on 'all Canadian aircraft', stoking fresh tensions with Ottawa
Fri, Jan 30 2026
EU labels Iran's Revolutionary Guards as 'terrorist organisation' amid deadly crackdown on protests
Fri, Jan 30 2026
EU set to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as terror organisation alongside Al Qaeda, Hamas
Thu, Jan 29 2026
Civilian train hit as Russian strikes leave 12 dead in Ukraine
Wed, Jan 28 2026