Joint statement in support of moratorium on all oil activities in the wider Virunga area the undersigned call on UNESCO and the governments of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into reach an agreement to prevent any oil exploration, extraction or related activities in the wider Virunga area which is key to the integrity of the Virunga World Heritage Site. 

This should include Virunga and Queen Elizabeth national parks and the whole of Lake Edward. As part of the agreement all existing exploration licenses in this area, as well as plans to issue new ones, should be abandoned. In particular, the Government of Uganda should withdraw the Ngaji oil block from the current oil licensing round with immediate effect. 

The DRC government should refrain from granting any new licenses, or transfer of licenses, in Virunga National Park or seeking to re-draw its boundaries in order to allow oil activities in the area.