- The spirits traditionally associated with the protection of a vital rapids and waterfall complex on the mighty Congo River have won international recognition as the Congo Brazzaville site and its spirits were included on a global protection list.
Les Rapides du Congo-Djoué, a 2,500 hectare site not far downstream from Congo's capital Brazzaville, was one of four African wetlands inscribed on the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands register of wetlands of international significance earlier this month. This will ensure stronger national and international efforts and funds to protect the area.
The largest site is the 1.525 million hectare Sangha-Nouabalé-Ndoki wetland in the north-west of Congo Brazzaville, a vast area of lakes, marshes, ponds and floodplain forests on the Sangha River, a major Congo River tributary.
According to ecologists, the area is significant in regulating flood flows and providing dry season reserves for the Congo basin generally. It is also said to be important for transport and is habitat for a number of species of conservation concern – including the Giant Pangolin, chimpanzees and leopards.
The much smaller Congo-Djoué Rapids surround a natural barrage on River Congo and its major tributary Djoué, which is said to be vital to Central Africa's two largest cities, Brazzaville, and the Democratic Republic of Congo capital of Kinshasa.
But it is also an important cultural site. The Congo-Djoué Rapids site is centred on one of three forested islands: L'Ile du Diable (Devil's Island), traditionally the home of spirits who not only protect the areas but ensure good fishing, health and influence to those initiated into their secrets.
However, for the uninitiated, the spirits – for which Nile crocodile or half-human, half-fish "sirène" tokens are venerated – can exert a malign influence.
Gilbert Madouka, of the Ministry of Tourism and the Environment and Congo Brazzaville's Ramsar representative, said the area was being recognised for its cultural as well as its environmental significance. "The sirène and the Nile Crocodile are revered in our area like gods," Mr Madouka said.
"That is why this habitat that houses the gods always causes fear among the population and access to these areas to exploit their natural resources is often based on decisions by traditional authorities – which to a certain extent, diminishes the human pressure on the area," he added.
Environmentalist groups - including WWF, which has been involved in the management of Congo Brazzaville's wetlands since 2002 - celebrate the decision to strengthen the protection of these sites and thank the Congolese spirits for their well done job to scare off intruders so far.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español