Rédaction Africa Links 24 with The Observer
Published on 2024-04-10 09:19:41
The Pulitzer Center Rainforest Investigations Network, in collaboration with The Africa Report, has launched an exclusive four-part investigation into timber trafficking in East Africa, shedding light on Uganda’s role in this regional crisis.
This in-depth probe reveals the exploitation of conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) north-east, which facilitates the illegal trade of its protected hardwoods. Key East African Community economies, including Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, are found to benefit from this illicit trade, contradicting their environmental commitments.
At the core of this shadowy network are influential figures linked to security services and politicians across East Africa, including Uganda. They play a crucial role in ensuring the failure of border controls, enabling this illegal trade to thrive, according to the investigation. Corruption is rampant, with loggers and truckers bribing officials at border checkpoints and obtaining falsified certificates of origin for hefty fees.
This timber smuggling operation poses a significant threat to the Congo basin’s ecology and its role in the global fight against uncontrolled climate change. In interviews conducted for this story, Uganda government officials uniformly denied any involvement in the smuggling of timber from Congo.
“We have not received any such information about the smuggling of timber,” said Police spokesman Fred Enanga. “For more details, please contact the customs department; they will provide thorough information.”
“UPDF is not aware of any such smuggling activities unless there is concrete evidence to support these claims,” stated Felix Kulayigye, the UPDF spokesman, in an interview on Monday.
Tom Okello, the executive director of the National Forestry Authority (NFA), also dismissed these allegations.
“As the NFA, we are unaware of any timber smuggling activities from Congo. The only recognized market for Congolese timber that we know of is in Mpondwe. There, timber is legally sold, with revenue paid to the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) for its importation into Uganda. We haven’t heard of any other markets, legal or illegal, for timber besides Mpondwe,” he explained.
However, research by the Center for International Forestry Research reveals that over 90 percent of the timber traded through Congo Park in DRC lacks legal logging permits.
The extent of exploitation is vast, with hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of protected African hardwoods being looted from the DRC and smuggled into Uganda and its neighboring countries over the past two decades. The primary species of trees harvested in Congo include Okoume and Sapelli.
In particular, Pulitzer Center Rainforest Investigations Network’s investigation highlights Uganda’s border point of Lia as a key location for this illicit trade, especially as night falls. The bustling activity at this border paints a vivid picture of a thriving business that spans across East Africa.
Yet, this economic prosperity masks a darker reality of exploitation, environmental degradation, and the hazardous journey of Congolese timber. Despite international protection for species like African mahogany, the lack of rigorous border checks at points like Lia has facilitated the unimpeded movement of these valuable woods.
This lax enforcement leads to significant environmental and community harm. The investigation utilized interviews, satellite imagery, and on-the-ground reporting to unravel the illegal logging supply chain, from Lia’s operations to the broader network of buyers and sellers across Africa.
It not only exposes the mechanics of the trade but also delves into the human impact – stories of hope, despair, and a tireless pursuit of prosperity. Central to this series is a critical analysis of the legal and regulatory frameworks, or their absence, governing the timber trade in East Africa. Insights from local politicians, timber dealers, and conservation experts in Uganda and beyond reveal the extent of corruption, weak governance, and ineffective environmental policies.
This series underscores that timber trafficking is not just an ecological issue; it is a complex socio-economic challenge that demands a unified, cross-border approach.
The illegal plunder and sale of Congolese timber in Uganda have been a contentious issue for many years. On February 9, 2022, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Uganda must pay $325 million in reparations to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
This compensation covers damages to individuals, property, and natural resources resulting from Uganda’s military intervention in the DRC’s conflicts between 1998 and 2003. The ordered reparations address various transgressions, including loss of lives and the plunder, looting, and exploitation of resources such as gold, diamonds, and timber during the period of military occupation.
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