Fatshimetrie: OVG volcanologists on strike to demand their specific bonus
Since Friday, September 13, agents of the Goma Volcanological Observatory, also known as OVG, have been on dry strike to demand payment of their specific bonus, which has not been paid for nine months by the Ministry of Scientific Research. This bonus, granted by President Félix Tshisekedi following his visit to Goma after the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano on May 22, 2021, has become a major issue for volcanologists who feel aggrieved and neglected.
Faced with this situation, the consequences are immediate and alarming. OVG analysts, who are in charge of monitoring the Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira volcanoes, find themselves unable to access crucial data to prevent possible eruptions or volcanic phenomena. This interruption of monitoring services poses a serious risk to the security of populations living near the volcanoes, in a region already subject to numerous security challenges.
Georges Mavonga Tuluka, Director General of the OVG, stressed that the non-payment of this bonus for nine months is the result of various contingencies, including the change of government and the appointment of a new Prime Minister. Faced with this impasse, OVG agents decided to harden their movement by even forcing the management committee to join the strike, thus paralyzing the operations of the observatory.
In response to this crisis, the Mayor of Goma, Faustin Kapend Kamand, called for respect for a minimum service in order to avoid a possible catastrophe. He urged the strikers to prioritize their duties towards the population rather than their rights, emphasizing the increased risk that abandoning volcano monitoring represents for the security of the inhabitants of the region.
Since last May, OVG agents have been faced with partial strike movements before switching to a dry strike from last Friday. The situation therefore remains critical and requires urgent intervention by the authorities to find a solution and ensure the resumption of volcanic monitoring activities essential to the safety and well-being of the surrounding populations.