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Two Britons kidnapped in Democratic Republic of Congo Two Britons kidnapped in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(about 2 hours later)
The Foreign Office is investigating reports that two British citizens have been kidnapped in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Foreign Office is investigating reports that two British citizens have been kidnapped in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The pair are reported to have been taken while visiting Virunga national park, a renowned gorilla sanctuary in the east of the African country, on Friday.The pair are reported to have been taken while visiting Virunga national park, a renowned gorilla sanctuary in the east of the African country, on Friday.
The full circumstances surrounding the kidnapping are not yet clear, but a park source told AFP that a convoy was attacked and some tourists were kidnapped. The full circumstances surrounding the kidnapping are not yet clear, but a park source told the news agency AFP that a convoy was attacked and some tourists were kidnapped. The source did not specify the nationality of those abducted, but said their guard was seriously injured.
The source did not specify the nationality of those abducted but said their guard was seriously injured. “I confirm an attack on our convoy,” Joel Wengamulay, the park spokesman said, without specifying if tourists were targeted or had been kidnapped. “I confirm an attack on our convoy,” said Joel Wengamulay, the park spokesman, without specifying if tourists were targeted or had been kidnapped.
The Press Association reported that the two tourists were British citizens. According to local media, a female ranger was killed in the incident.The Press Association reported that the two tourists were British citizens. According to local media, a female ranger was killed in the incident.
The Foreign Office said in a statement: “We are in close contact with the authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo following an incident involving two British nationals, and our staff are providing support to their families.”The Foreign Office said in a statement: “We are in close contact with the authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo following an incident involving two British nationals, and our staff are providing support to their families.”
Virunga is a Unesco world heritage site and one of the most important conservation areas in the world, covering 7,800 sq km (3,011 sq miles), along the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of Congo with Uganda and Rwanda. Local sources say the kidnapping appears to have taken place north of Goma. The road to the park from the city is popular with tourists, who usually restrict their movements to the road, the flanks of the Nyiragongo volcano, or the hills populated by mountain gorillas close to the Rwandan border.
Established in 1925, it is home to about a quarter of the world’s population of critically endangered mountain gorillas, as well as to eastern lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, okapis, lions, elephants and hippos. It is located in DRC’s North Kivu province, where armed groups are fighting for control of territorial and natural resources, and poaching is a major threat. Rising violence in recent months across the province of North Kivu has been linked by some to broader political instability in the DRC.
On 9 April, five rangers and a driver were killed in an ambush in the park. Virunga has experienced waves of violence and crime linked to local unrest. There have been increasingly intense clashes between local militia known as Mai-Mai, armed groups and security forces including police, army soldiers and the park’s 700 guards.
A number of kidnaps have taken place in the park in the past six weeks. Mai-Mai militia have been blamed for an attack last month in which six guards were killed.
Virunga is a Unesco world heritage site and one of the most important conservation areas in the world, covering 7,800 sq km (3,011 sq miles) along the DRC’s eastern border with Uganda and Rwanda.
Established in 1925, it is home to about a quarter of the world’s population of critically endangered mountain gorillas, as well as to eastern lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, okapis, lions, elephants and hippos. Poaching is a major threat.
The Foreign Office has issued warnings not to travel to large parts of the DRC.The Foreign Office has issued warnings not to travel to large parts of the DRC.
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