CorPPN Visit to the Reserve

The Corps en charge de la sécurisation des Parcs Nationaux (CorPPN) is a cooperative partnership established in 2015 between the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN), the Congolese Army (FARDC), local police forces, special security services, and wardens to secure the Protected Areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The CorPPN intervenes specifically to combat the destructive threat of illegal activities to protected areas including mining, logging, and poaching in addition to combatting  120 armed militia groups operating in Eastern DRC.

On March 30 this year, Bénoit Kisuki, the CorPPN Deputy Commander in charge of administration and logistics visited the Okapi Wildlife Reserve to evaluate ICCN protection efforts, prepare for a new effort to evict illegal gold miners, assess ecoguard training, ranger salaries, and equipment, and encourage the continued peaceful cohabitation and collaboration with surrounding communities. 

Mr. Kisuki’s visit was welcomed and well-received by ICCN ecoguards and OCP and WCS staff after he provided a hopeful speech and actions for the future and emphasized the importance of ensuring the Okapi Wildlife Reserve remains protected. He relayed that President Tshisekedi is urging ICCN to bring tourism back to the Reserve.

OCP staff attended several of his meetings, workshops, and presentations and we are hopeful for renewed security in the region and throughout DRC’s protected areas, including the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.