CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
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Congo-Brazzaville |
CIVIL WAR
The only solution is honest and frank dialogue
Calm, tough, a strategist. Sassou Nguesso’s quiet force, respected in bygone days, especially during the era of single-party politics, is in a bad way. Not only because he’s failed to have any success in presenting his candidate, the ambassador and author Henri Lopès, as secretary-general of the French-speaking international organisation (Francophonie) which held their summit in Beirut in October. But because of the war in the Pool Region, in the south of Congo. A war which has resulted in many human rights violations.
Since the end of September, the struggle between the government forces and those of the rebel Ninjas, led by Pasteur Ntoumi has intensified. A number of attacks have taken place not far from Brazzaville, such as the recent Ninja attack at Nganga-Lingolo and at Madibou, 17 km south of Brazzaville. Six people were killed, two police stations burnt down and a significant amount of damage to property. For some days, there was a new population exodus, fleeing the fighting and seeking refuge in Brazzaville.
The army, helped by Angolan troops, doesn’t seem to be making any headway and according to some sources, is using heavy weapons and helicopters piloted by Ukrainians in order to overcome the rebels. It seems the Ninjas have now adopted hit-and-run tactics, using guerrilla methods. Their choice targets —villages in which the population are trying to re-establish themselves; transport trucks which supply the capital with agricultural food products; and trains carrying soldiers. They maltreat the population, bringing fear everywhere and harassing the government army.
Information coming from various sources indicates that fighting is now taking place near Boko, 200 km from Brazzaville, where the situation was calm until now. Both government soldiers and rebel militia outdo themselves in brutality.
Why?
The Ninjas give two reasons for their offensive. For some, their attacks are by way of reply to President Sassou Nguesso who, during his visit to Paris in September, declared there was now peace in Congo. A Ninja commander said the following to the people: «We declared a truce believing that after his election (which we didn’t want to interfere with), the President would view us in a better light. What’s presently taking place is just the opposite. So now, for the present, the truce is over. You can’t have peace with some and war with the others».
Others say they’re fed up with living in the forests. «Six years is too long. We want to leave. But the soldiers are stopping us from living both in the forests and in the towns. Let’s bring this country down, because it seems to be what people want».
However, the rebels’ greatest requirement is political. They say: «The time for negotiations is over. Now we’re calling for a general amnesty. There should be no more exiles, neither in Congo, nor abroad. We want dialogue between politicians».
Conspiracy?
The rebels’ attitude is a terrible blow for Sassou Nguesso who was elected by nearly 90% of votes cast on 10 March 2002. It’s his administration’s most difficult trial of strength which has remained on a war footing ever since Nguesso overthrew Pascal Lissouba in October 1997. Is the President now paying the price for his own intransigence? Many Congolese say «yes». His categorical refusal to dialogue with exiled leaders such as Bernard Kolélas, Pascal Lissouba, Yombi Ophango, is leading nowhere.
A point of view going the rounds in the capital, will have it that ever since violence broke out again in 1998, the Ninja rebels are conniving with some political and military personalities, close to the government. These so-called «accomplices» have an interest in discreetly supporting the conflict presently raging in the Pool. Are they plotting a new coup d’etat? Indeed, several witnesses report that the rebels are now equipped with new weapons and wear the same uniforms as the Congolese armed forces. Which only goes to confuse the government soldiers when they attack the rebels. But who has provided these uniforms and equipment?
Some time ago, the army announced that the rebels were encircled and that the capture of the rebel leader, Ntoumi, was only a matter of hours. It was only propaganda! On 14 June, the rebels attacked Brazzaville, targeting the airport from where helicopters take off to bomb the Pool.
The innocent population is paying dearly for this war which seems to go on and on. They’ve experienced war in all its aspects and horrors — extortion, racketeering, looting, rape, holdups — all carried out by the badly paid military. Women, children and the elderly are wandering about the forests without any help at all.
A Catholic Priest, Father Guth, has paid the ultimate price. At the end of March, he was kidnapped by the Ninjas somewhere between Kindamba and Mayama in the Pool region, where he was visiting his people. The Ninjas cut one of his tendons and Father John Guth remained without any assistance in the forest. This 72-year-old Franciscan finally died in August and was buried in wretched conditions. His body was exhumed on 27 September and carried to Brazzaville thanks to the French police. He finally was able to have a proper funeral and burial.
André Milongo is leader of the opposition Union for Democracy and the Republic party. He says: «The current crisis is not because of the country’s present economic situation, but the result of what’s gone on before. It’s a prolongation of the fundamental crisis which led to the National Conference. It’s also the unfinished result of the transition period (1991-1992)». He says the solution to the Pool’s crisis is not to go at it hammer and tongs, but in seeking honest and sincere dialogue, and in renouncing the rebels’ and loyalists’ brutal violence. Sassou, his fellow politicians and his military, seem determined to refuse such a road to peace. Their choice? Force at all costs.