African Wildlife Defence Force

The African Wildlife Defence Force (AWDF), Kikosi cha ulinzi ya wanyama pori barani Afrika (Swahili), is a private park ranger and anti-poaching organization based in Dungu, in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. AWDF uses direct action tactics to protect wildlife and rainforests. The organization was founded in 2012 by Congolese-Belgian philanthropist Jean Kiala-Inkisi. It is proposed as an alternative to regular park ranger organizations who struggle with corruption, and seeks to eliminate the increasing levels of violence which poachers face.

History
The AWDF was found in 2012 after founder Jean Kiala-Inkisi travelled through Africa. He did not believe the rest of the world was doing enough to help the parks in central Africa. After he conducted ground surveys on the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, and had been contracted on a private ranch in South Africa, he decided to train a team of Congolese rangers.

In April 2014, the AWDF began with the selection of candidate rangers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Kenya and South Africa for training of Advanced Force (AFR) and Special Force (SFR) rangers. Kiala-Inkisi approached a former French Legionnaire in aim of providing training.

Organization
The AWDF is a non-profit private ranger organization. 80% of the organization's revenue is spent on its programs and 20% on administration and fundraising. It is supported by private and corporate donations, internet advertising and grants. The group is operated by both paid rangers and volunteers. The organization chooses to operate with a few Special Operations Task Forces only. It provides services including anti-poaching, wildlife management, forestry management and agroforestry consulting. It is also involved in ranger training, close quarter training and specialist rural security services.

The AWDF is open to African citizens except those from countries located north of the Sahel. They refuse African expats from outside Africa for ranger functions. In general, foreigners from outside Africa can only work as an instructor or scientist.

AWDF rangers wear their insignia on the left side of the beret, to distinguish themselves from the regular park ranger organizations.

As a private ranger services contractor, the AWDF focuses on wildlife conservation and rainforest conservation. The AWDF has expertise to also intervene in mangroves, lakes and waterways but does not work at sea. Their major working field is central Africa in the parks located in the border region of Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Uganda and Central African Republic.

Departments
A working group, Convention on African Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna, was formed in protest against what the AWDF calls the disastrous policies of CITES. The group works on wildlife law enforcement and promote non-conventional livestock farming including insect farming, crocodile farming and game farming. They also examine the pros and cons of rhino horn farming.

Rangers are trained in Basic Military Training and Wildlife Management courses. Advanced Force Rangers consist of parachute/commando units, operating as a support-reconnaissance unit. Special Force Rangers are a special forces unit selected from the AFR units, trained in three specialities. These are free fall from high altitude HAHO/HALO, underwater fighting skills and operating in mountainous terrain. The Special Operations Affiliate Ranger Group are a special forces unit, mostly US veterans working pro-bono for a short or long-term basis.

The AWDF focuses on the conservation of the rainforest from the basin of the Congo which has 70% of Africa's plant cover. The AWDF plans to start a nursery for Wild Edible Plants (WEP) & Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP)'' and Tropical Hardwood. The AWDF also created a list of 150 tree species for multiplication to avoid the alienation and destruction of the rainforest.

Actions
On 13 August 2014, Kiala-Inkisi flew to Burbank, California to do a hunger strike. The goal was to get media attention in Hollywood for his cause. After sending 2500 emails without receiving any reply, he talked with workers of Animal Defenders International (ADI) in Los Angeles. He was also invited by rhino zookeeper and Anti-Poaching Ranger Mike Daniels to visit the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and to look behind the scenes. On invitation of Matt Rossell, (ADI) Campaigns Director, a dinner took place with actress and animal activist Georja Umano. Later he also met the actress and editor Moon Hi Hanson.

Since 2012, a team of rangers is deployed near the border of Bengangai Game Reserve, Bire Kpatous Game Reserve and Mbarizunga Game reserve of neighboring country South Sudan to quest the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) of Joseph Kony.

Projects

 * Nutrecul Agroforestry Project