Individuals who exposed illegal profiteering within a protected coastal nature reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been subjected to severe reprisals, including violent attacks and sexual assault, according to findings from an investigation.
The Mangrove Marine Park, a Ramsar-protected site on the DRC’s small Atlantic coastline, is a critical habitat for manatees and endangered sea turtles. This area, where the Congo River meets the ocean, is governed by strict environmental regulations.
In 2022, conservation specialist Kim Rebholz was appointed by the government to lead the park’s protection efforts. His work, however, led to the discovery of extensive unauthorized activities within the park’s boundaries. Satellite imagery and ground patrols revealed a vast industrial palm oil plantation, reportedly owned by a company linked to former president Joseph Kabila, sprawling over hundreds of hectares of what should be pristine wilderness.
Further investigation identified an illegal logging port operated by a Chinese conglomerate and a separate port used for illicit oil trafficking. It is alleged that fuel smuggled through this port accounts for a significant portion of the supply in the capital, Kinshasa.
After Rebholz formally called for an official inquiry into these activities, he and his family were targeted. In a February 2023 night-time raid, armed and masked assailants broke into his home. The attackers subjected Rebholz to a mock execution in front of his young son and then sexually assaulted his wife, threatening to kill her if she resisted.
Rebholz believes the attack was a direct consequence of his work. Following the assault, he filed a formal complaint, but no official investigation was ever launched. He and his family subsequently left the country.
This case is not isolated. A Congolese NGO leader reported a similar violent home invasion after his organization published findings about a farm owned by Kabila encroaching on a national park.
Key figures implicated by Rebholz in the exploitation of the Mangrove Marine Park have denied the allegations, labeling them as fabrications. The US government, however, has since declared two of these officials ineligible for entry into the United States due to their alleged involvement in significant corruption related to wildlife trafficking.
Despite the personal cost, Rebholz maintains that exposing the truth was necessary. He hopes that by coming forward, he has helped spotlight the urgent need for greater accountability and a more responsible stewardship of the DRC’s protected natural treasures.
