Berta Vive! An Extraordinary Leader Murdered. Her Fight Will Never Die. We call for Justice.

An extraordinary leader has been murdered. To save this planet we need extraordinary leaders…. Many of them are not known to you and to the rest of the world, and probably they never will be. Why? “It costs us in blood” BUT THEY ARE HERE, fighting each day for a world where environmental and human… Read More

Virunga discussed in UK Parliament: Serious Concerns Remain

Allegations of human rights abuses and corruption, associated with SOCO International’s oil exploration in and around Virunga National Park, were discussed in the UK parliament this week. In the House of Commons on 17th December 2014, Pauline Latham MP OBE raised the Question: “Will the Secretary of State tell us what her Department has done… Read More

7# NO TO OIL, STOP THE THREATS: North Kivu Civil Society response to Mbayma’s Threats

IN 2013 North Kivu Civil Society response to Mbayma’s Threats 12-03-2014 North Kivu Civil Society official response to the letter of Guy Mbayama, urging DRC and ICCN’s authorities to remember that Civil society actors in North Kivu have the primary duty to defend and promote, at all times and everywhere, the rights of citizens in… Read More

6# NO TO OIL, STOP THE THREATS: When Local Communities SAY NO, SOCO Increases the Pressure

IN 2013 When local communities say NO, SOCO increases the Pressure 08-03-2014 Press Release of Civil society on SOCO’s oil exploration and exploitation in the Virunga National Park. When local communities say NO, SOCO International seeks the reinforce the credibility of the project by the dividing and manipulating the actors. Environmental non-governmental organizations of the… Read More

5# NO TO OIL, STOP THE THREATS: Local NGOs Urgent Appeal

IN 2013 North Kivu Civil Society reaction / Urgent Appeal 09-02-2014 As a reaction to the unfounded accusations and in response to Mr Guy Mbayma’s letter, civil society actors wrote an urgent appeal against the threats to environmental defenders in North Kivu. They fear that their members on the ground and in Goma suffer death… Read More

4# NO TO OIL, STOP THE THREATS: Threats against CS actors coming from G. Mbayma

IN 2013 January 2014 – but dated 31-10-2013 On 31st October 2013, the Director of Science and technology at the ICCN, Mr. Guy Mbayima, addressed an unnumbered letter to the General Director of the ICCN after the workshop that was held in Goma on the 31st of January 2014, threatening local civil society opposing oil… Read More

2# NO TO OIL, STOP THE THREATS: Statement against SOCO’s engagement program in Virunga

IN 2013 24-07-2013 In this open petition to the DRC Government local civil society in North Kivu speaks out against the local engagement program of SOCO International targeting the fisheries of Lake Edward. Local civil society organizations working on conservation and protection of the Environment and Human Rights (CREF Network CREDDHO, IDPE, SOPR) condemn in… Read More

1# NO TO OIL, STOP THE THREATS: Local NGO urges SOCO to Investigate Death Threats

IN 2012 On the 19th of October 2012, SOCO’s communications liaison officer sent a letter to a number of Congolese organizations, including some of the environmental activists who have been receiving death threats since February 2011. The letter below is a response from Alphonse Muhindo, Director of Réseau CREF, one of the 4 activists that… Read More

Local NGO urges SOCO to investigate death threats to Congolese Activists

On the 19th of October 2012, SOCO’s communications liaison officer sent a letter to a number of Congolese organizations, including some of the environmental activists who have been receiving death threats since February 2011. The letter below is a response from Alphonse Muhindo, Director of Réseau CREF, one of the 4 activists that were forced… Read More