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Congo-Brazza |
SOCIAL CONDIT.
Efforts are being made to integrate the militia into civilian life
The use of private militia in the Republic of Congo is of long standing. It was in December 1968 that the very first youth branch of the National Revolutionary Movement, associated with the single ruling party, was founded. In 1991, after the National Sovereign Conference, many political parties came into being and each one wanted to have a private militia. The alleged purpose was to guard and provide security for members of the party in senior positions. Hence, the appearance on the scene of the Cobra (Sassou Nguesso’s militia), the Ninja (Bernard Kolélas’ militia), the Cocoyes and the Zoulous (Pascal Lissouba’s militia), the Faucons (Jacques-Joachim Yhombi Opango’s militia), the Requins (Jean-Pierre Tchicaya’s militia), etc. A plethora of private militia with disastrous consequences.
Then followed the civil wars of 1993-94 when the Ninjas fought with the Cocoyes: result—3,000 dead. The process of reconciliation initiated by Members of Parliament produced no results: on 5 June 1997 the government forces of Pascal Lissouba began hostilities against the Sassou Nguesso’s Cobra militia: result — 10,000 dead. Peace, by now a rare commodity in Congo, was again shattered in 1998-99: the southern suburbs of Brazzaville were set on fire, violence erupted with murderous clashes between Bernard Kolélas’ Ninjas, Pasteur Ntoumi’s Ntsiloulous, and the Congolese Armed Forces (FAC). Thousands were killed.
The Congolese Centre for the Protection of the Rights of Children published a report on 17 September 1999, dealing with: «The Massive Violations Of Children’s Rights in Congo-Brazza». The report noted the enrolment of children in the armed militia and violence perpetrated on minors. The report emphasised that the Cobras had 105 child soldiers between the ages of 15 and 17, and the Cocoyes had 400 aged from 12 to 13 years old, the Ninjas, 200
At the crossroads
After wandering for a long time in the forests of South Congo, some militia members of the Ninjas, Ntsiloulous, Cocoyes, Zoulous and Faucons finally decided to give up violence. This was due to the pardon extended by Sassou Nguesso, but also particularly because of the agreed cease fire and the cessation of hostilities signed in October-December 1999 between the FAC and the militia.
However, these ex-militia can no longer endure the harsh conditions which they are now having to endure. They are crying out for help. In particular, those who have opted to live in the sports centre of Makelele in Brazzaville. On 10 April they made a moving appeal to Sassou Nguesso: «We feel abandoned, both by our own representatives in the follow-up committee of the peace accord, and by the government. No longer does somebody come to enquire about our situation. When we came out of the forests, we were looked after only for the first few days, and then we were abandoned. We are even sleeping on rough cement. Famine is our daily lot. It is as if we are expected to go to steal in the markets to survive. We no longer have clothes and are threatened by disease».
According to the leaders of the follow-up committee of the peace accords, many of the ex-militia are surplus to requirements. «All the ex-militia will not be recruited into the regular armed forces. People who are sick or over the age of 35 cannot be recruited by the army». Moreover, a member of the committee explains: «Like all recruitment into the armed forces, the recruiting of ex-militia into the FAC is subject to the well defined-criteria of the Military Code.»
The situation of the ex-militia needs careful consideration. This implies what the ex-militia call, rightly or wrongly, respect for authority and the rule of law which they have accepted by the fact that they have laid down their arms and come out of the forest. And the authorities have promised to look after them accordingly.
There are also feelings of fear and vengeance. In the euphoria of the war, the ex-militia committed many acts of violence. Some are now afraid that the populace will seek revenge. «Now I have no way out. I am very much afraid of being attacked in public by one or another of the families whose daughter I violated when they were fleeing from the war in the Pool region.» So says Ngapi, a Ninja ex-militiaman. Another affirmed: «There is a time for making war and a time for peace. We are accused of being “executioners”, for no good reason.»
A few months ago, especially in Brazzaville, some of the public authorities launched «information and awareness campaigns» among the general public, explaining the process of reconciliation. These campaigns have borne results. Evil rumours in some areas threatening to set back the peace process have been quashed. The ex-militia who have been resettled in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire have not been «hounded» in spite of the help they are demanding for their daily needs.
The UNPD to the rescue
The United Nations Program for Development (UNDP) is planning to put in place a program aimed at helping the ex-militia become usefull productive members of society. In total, 1.3 million dollars will be set aside to bring about the rehabilitation of those militia who have laid down their arms. These funds will be used to start a pilot scheme to orient 60 to 100 former militia into activities chosen for them by the project leaders. Mr Zéphirin Diabré, UNPD‘s managing director, announced this program last March during his visit to Brazzaville. By means of productive activities, it is hoped to persuade these young people to give up all talk of violence and to be integrated into normal life. «The young must be given new hope and new reason to live», said Mr Diabré.
He also announced the setting up, very shortly, of a project for women, particularly in the area of resettling displaced people. The project worth nearly 1.5 million dollars, will also aim to repair some of the country’s infrastructures. For example, at Dolisie, in the region of Niari to the south of Brazzaville, the UNPD has established a pilot program worth 30,000 to 50,000 dollars, to help people returning to their villages rebuild their houses. «We want to enable people who were displaced, to take advantage of basic services, such as health, schools, and basic communities», said Mr Diabré.
UNPD wants to be able to progress from this phase of giving emergency help, to a medium and long-term program. Mr Diabré wants to set up a three to four year co-operation program with Congo-Brazza.
French-Congolese co-operation
The French Embassy is also preoccupied with getting young people back into normal civilian life. In April 2000, France allocated funds to the tune of 61,300,000 CFA francs for the reconstruction of the Bouansa-Mouyondzi-Moukoukoulou highway. 80% of the total cost of the project is being carried by the French Government; salaries are the Congo-Brazza Government’s responsibility. After three months’ work and the rebuilding of five bridges destroyed during the war, this project will make traffic possible over a distance of some 100 km. The project is somewhat original. Responsibility for the work is shared between the various local administrations through which the road passes. They will be responsible for road maintenance. The «Land and Village» Association will be in charge of construction work, while the Ministry of Public Works will provide overall supervision. The workforce is supplied by 300 young people (a significant proportion of whom are former fighters) recruited temporarily in their home villages. Depending on their capacities, these young people can either do simple road upkeep work (clearing the bush, moving earth, etc. for an average wage of 100,000 CFA francs) or more specialised work, particularly in building bridges.
In the light of this first experiment, the French Embassy and the Ministry of Public Works expect in the short term to engage in other joint operations based on the same principles. The advantages and the follow-on effects are manifold:
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