National Assembly approves bill on amnesty for Ninja militias

The National Assembly of the Republic of Congo approved on Thursday a bill on amnesty for Ninja militants who fought government forces in the Department of Pool in the south of the country. In a communiqué, the government said the amnesty would cover the period from 15 January 2000 until the date the bill is ultimately signed into law by Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso. Under the terms of the amnesty, the Ninja militants will not be prosecuted for their actions. In 1999, the former transitional government approved an amnesty for combatants in the civil wars of 1993, 1997 and 1998. That law expired in January 2000. In March 2002, a new round of fighting erupted in Pool between government forces and Ninja militias loyal to the Rev Frederic Bitsangou, alias Pasteur Ntoumi. However, a peace agreement was signed on 17 March 2003 between the government and Ntoumi's Ninjas, ending a year of hostilities during which tens of thousands of people fled the region, while fighting trapped many more. The amnesty bill is one of the measures of the peace agreement, which aims to restore peace in Pool, guarantee free circulation of persons and goods, and to restore state authority in the region.