On Wednesday, August 16th, the U.S. Department of State placed Cosma Wilungula, former Director General of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN), and two of his associates on its sanctions list for acts of corruption. These allegations have not led to any legal proceedings against him in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to the U.S. Department of State, these three individuals have been sanctioned for abusing their public positions, as they were at the center of a trafficking network involving chimpanzees, gorillas, okapis, and other protected wildlife species in the DRC. These animals were unlawfully transported to China using falsified permits and in exchange for bribes.
Transnational Crimes
These actions are considered transnational crimes by the U.S. government, which argues that they have “not only undermined the rule of law and transparency in the DRC government,” but also harmed longstanding wildlife conservation efforts. Cosma Wilungula, a 62-year-old preacher heading an evangelical church, enjoyed the trust of Joseph Kabila’s regime. He held the position of Director General of the ICCN for sixteen years, during which he claimed to have reformed and elevated the institute.
Misappropriation
In 2021, he was suspended from his position due to allegations of mismanagement, including the misappropriation of several million dollars. He was also accused of entering agreements with third parties and countries without government approval. His attempts to regain his position through legal means were unsuccessful, eventually leading to his resignation.
Cosma Wilungula’s story highlights the intersection of conservation, governance, and accountability, shedding light on the complexities of addressing corruption and wildlife trafficking in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The U.S. sanctions emphasize the global significance of combatting such crimes and their far-reaching impact on both local and international ecosystems.