This concern was raised during a press conference organized in Beni, the temporary seat of institutions, on March 31, 2025.

According to Méthode Uhoze, Director of External Relations at ICCN, the plundering of natural resources has been exacerbated by the war in the region, leaving eco-guards unable to maintain control over the mining zones they are tasked to protect.

“Wars not only affect populations, but they also harm flora and fauna. Currently, several areas of the park are beyond the control of eco-guards due to insecurity. These areas have become strongholds of illegal resource exploitation,” he lamented.

Uhoze also highlighted that the conflict has severely impacted the park’s tourism activities, threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of families who depend on it.

The resurgence of armed conflict has escalated since January 2025, when AFC/M23 rebels seized the cities of Goma and Bukavu. A report by the United Nations Group of Experts, published that same month, revealed that these rebels systematically loot Congolese minerals in areas under their control, such as Rubaya, from where they illicitly exported 150 tons of coltan to Rwanda.