Calm returns after gunfire in Brazzaville

The capital Brazzaville was reported to be back to normal on Wednesday after armed clashes in the district of Poto Poto had generated widespread panic on Tuesday morning. The situation had been especially tense in the city centre, where all government buildings were deserted on Tuesday, Radio Congo reported. Brazzaville military zone commander General Mona Essongo said the clashes had involved the police and armed robbers, and that one bandit was shot dead and one policeman seriously injured. “Policemen were trying to guarantee the security around this very sensitive area and I think people panicked when they heard so many gunshots,” he said on national radio.

It was not true that the mayor of Poto Poto had been seriously injured when he tried to intervene in Tuesday’s clashes, Essongo said, adding that an increase in violent incidents may have resulted from the security forces being “a little less vigilant” in recent times. The Republic of Congo is in the midst of a fragile transition since a ceasefire agreement took hold in January to end a succession of three civil wars in six years but, with the challenges of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration remaining, the next few months are considered crucial for the consolidation of peace.