Rukwanzi Island

Last updated
Rukwanzi Island
Disputed island
Rukwanzi Island
Interactive map of Rukwanzi Island
Geography
LocationSouthwest Lake Albert in Central Africa
Coordinates 1°12′37″N30°29′29″E / 1.21028°N 30.49139°E / 1.21028; 30.49139 [2]
Total islands1
Administration
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Claimed by
Uganda
Demographics
Populationabout 1000 (2007)

Rukwanzi Island is a disputed island in the southern portion of Lake Albert in Central Africa. It is home to approximately 1000 fishermen. [3]

Contents

Ownership dispute

Rukwanzi is the subject of an ownership dispute between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, which are situated on opposite sides of the lake. [3] In late July 2007, Congo apprehended four Ugandan soldiers it said had crossed the dividing line in the lake, and on August 3, 2007, the countries' militaries engaged in a skirmish near the island, with one Briton and one Congolese killed. [3] On August 12, 2007, Congo occupied the area. [4]

Rukwanzi Island deputes led to an intervention meeting between President Yoweri Museveni and Kabila to try and resolve the border deputes. The island has minority settlers who are fishermen and attempts to relocate the main inhabitants have turned violent leading to clashes that claimed lives. [5] It is home to about 3000 people measuring 12 Square Kilometers. [6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Fisheries and Agriculture Department (1991). "Preliminary Results of the Frame Survey Conducted in the Ugandan Portion of Lake Albert". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations . Retrieved 2017-03-17.
  2. ↑ Rukwanzi "Island" is a section of Lake Albert's shoreline separated from the mainland only by narrow river channels, with the main settlement at these coordinates; dozens of visible piers, buildings, and boats are visible at this coordinate on Google Earth- like platforms, at the same location as "Rukwanzi (B)" in Figure 5 of this UN report. The location on OpenStreetMap, since copied by Google Earth and others, provides as the sole source an old, incorrect German Wikipedia entry. [1]
  3. 1 2 3 "Do you want to share or fight?". The Economist . The Economist Newspaper Limited. 2007-08-25.
  4. ↑ "Congo Troops Occupy Country's Territory". The Monitor, republished on allAfrica.com. The Monitor Publications Ltd. 2007-08-12. Retrieved 2007-08-25.
  5. ↑ Reporter, Vision. "Fishermen caught in battle for Rukwanzi oil". New Vision. Retrieved 2025-12-16.
  6. ↑ Reporter, Vision. "Uganda, DRC reach truce on Rukwanzi". New Vision. Retrieved 2025-12-16.
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