A warlord suspected of murdering about 20 environmentalists in Virunga National Park has been arrested in northern Kivu, still under siege. Jackson Muhukambuto is also said to be an ivory poacher.
as reported from Kinshasa, Kamanda wa Kamanda Muzembe
Jackson Muhukambuto was arrested earlier this week on the outskirts of the town of Butembo. Its environmental guards are spinning for six months, says the director of Virunga National Park. According to Emmanuel de Merode, Jackson Muhukambuto and his militia, Mai Mai Jackson, are suspected of several murders.
For three years, they would have killed nineteen environmental guards, many civilians as well as several soldiers. The man is a deserter of the regular army and formerly of several rebel movements and is at the head of an armed group working in an area estimated at more than half of Virunga Park. A park with an area of 7,800 km2.
Jackson Muhukambuto is said to have strong networks in the military and among traders in the Nande community, according to a recent report on the situation of armed groups in the eastern DRC.
According to park sources, Muhukambuto’s arrest came after an exchange of fire between his men and the eco-guards. No information was filtered about his detention. We only know that it is in the hands of military intelligence.
.
