Virunga National Park is greatly saddened to announce the death of Ranger Bagurubumwe Chuhoze Deogene. He was killed on 10th October 2020 during an attack on an ICCN patrol post near the Village of Sarambwe. Multiple local sources identify the FDLR-RUD armed group as responsible for the incident, stating that the perpetrators also pillaged the local communities nearby prior to and after the attack.
Deogene was 47 years old at the time of his death. He held the position of Head of Section and had worked for the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) since 1996. He leaves behind a wife and 3 children.
Virunga National Park offers its sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of our lost Ranger. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this time. His death once again emphasises our debt of gratitude towards the ICCN Rangers who put their lives on the line to protect the park and help bring peace in North Kivu.
For all enquiries please contact press@virunga.org.