The villages of Mantumbi and Masimba, located in the territory of Beni, in the province of North Kivu, have recently been the scene of a series of incidents involving wandering elephants. Over the past three days, these majestic pachyderms have caused considerable damage by ravaging more than 4 km of fields belonging to the local population. Damage was reported not only in the villages of Mantumbi and Masimba, but also in the surrounding areas, particularly near the villages of Vwerere and Makisabo, in the Malambo groupement.
According to reports from local sources, these roaming elephants appear to be coming from Virunga National Park, causing growing concern among residents in the area. Meleki Mulala, coordinator of the New Congolese Civil Society (NSCC), expressed his concern about the losses suffered by the population due to these incursions of elephants into cultivated areas. Crops of corn, tomatoes and other foodstuffs were destroyed, leading to adverse consequences for food security and the well-being of local citizens.
Faced with this worrying situation, Meleki Mulala called on the authorities of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) to take urgent measures to protect the fields and the livelihoods of the region’s inhabitants. He stressed the importance of putting in place effective strategies to discourage elephants from approaching agricultural areas and to ensure the safety of local populations.
It should be noted that the population in this part of North Kivu has recently started to rebuild and exploit agricultural land, taking advantage of an increasingly secure environment in parts of the Ruwenzori sector. However, incidents involving roaming elephants highlight the challenges local people face in their quest for development and security.
In response to these events, ICCN launched a project aimed at installing electric fences around Virunga Park in 2023 in order to prevent such intrusions by elephants into inhabited areas. However, despite these efforts, recent incursions highlight the need to strengthen protection and prevention measures to avoid further incidents of this type in the future.
In conclusion, the conflict between elephants and local people in North Kivu highlights the complex challenges faced by communities seeking to rebuild and prosper after years of conflict and insecurity. It is imperative that concerted measures are taken to ensure peaceful coexistence between humans and wildlife, while protecting livelihoods and natural resources essential to the survival of local populations.