Congo court proceedings begin for illegal mining in Conkouati-Douli National Park

Six individuals appeared before the Pointe-Noire high court on August 28, facing charges for the illegal extraction of minerals within the Conkouati-Douli National Park in the Kouilou department of Congo.

Conkouati-Douli is a vast protected area covering approximately 7,955 km², including both terrestrial and marine environments. The park serves as a critical habitat for several endangered species, including approximately 7,000 chimpanzees, 900 western lowland gorillas, 900 forest elephants, and Atlantic humpback dolphins.

The illegal mining operations occurred outside of any legal framework in a zone where such activities are strictly regulated or prohibited. The park is managed by the Ministry of Forest Economy in partnership with the NGO Noé.