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Humans and hippos are learning to live together in the DRC

The Africanews reported, in the banks of the Ruzizi River that divides the Democratic Republic of Congo from Burundi, cohabitation between hippopotamus and villagers remains conflictual. Since 2019, at least seven people were killed, six injured by hippos, with hectares of fields laid waste.
Environmental activists have multiplied their calls to establish protection mechanisms for hippos, while locals are calling on the government to repair the damages caused by the giant semi-aquatic mammals.
40-year-old Neema Byamungu Jacqueline, is the mother of eight children, whose 16-year-old son was killed by a hippopotamus in 2017.
"The hippos and I are enemies because they took away my son when he was 16. He was a very smart boy and represented the hope of the whole family.
My son was really smart, he was studying and was already in grade two. I was willing to sell my house to finance his studies, but the hippos killed him."
Kwinanika Lwajonga Jean-Pierre, who sustained a head injury after being attacked by a hippopotamus in 2020.
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"I was in the field when a hippopotamus attacked me. I defended myself with my machete but he hurt my skull, right here and I bled a lot. I was sure it was the end for me, that I was going to die right away, but I barely escaped, thanks to God."
Michael Mibanda, member of the local committee for hippopotamus protection, on the other hand has hope in the mammals.
"We would like for the government to see how it could preserve first, then protect and also assess how these animals could not be a danger for the population, because they are useful to us, the local population, though they have been aggressive towards us up until now, we could benefit from these animals."
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Katogota village, in the Ruzizi plain and home to some 14,000 inhabitants, at the border with Burundi.
The challenge is that people have encroached on the sides of the river in areas where the giant animals habitually forage for food. Officially it is illegal to occupy a 100-metre strip of land along the river banks, but the law is ignored.
Source: africanews
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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