Search
  1. Home
  2. East Africa
  3. Congo, Republic of

Government, rebels reafirm commitment to peace

    BRAZZAVILLE

    Ninja rebels and the government of the Republic of Congo (ROC) have entered into a new commitment to restore peace in the crisis-torn Pool region.

    In a declaration issued in the capital, Brazzaville, on Monday, a spokesman for the Ninja rebel leader, the Rev Frederic Bitsangou, alias Pasteur Ntoumi, agreed to end hostilities, disarm his fighters, and enable the restoration of state authority in Pool.

    At the same time, Minister of State Isidore Mvouba said the government would guarantee an amnesty offered to the rebels. He said ex-combatants would be reintegrated into the national army and included in a special committee to be formed to establish peace in Pool.

    Conflict erupted in the Pool region between government forces and Ninja rebels loyal to Ntoumi in late March 2002.

    Tens of thousands of people were forced to flee the region, while the fighting there trapped many more. Those who managed to escape were usually able to receive relief support, but humanitarian access to the vast majority left behind in Pool has been sporadic if not impossible.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

    Share this article

    Our ability to deliver compelling, field-based reporting on humanitarian crises rests on a few key principles: deep expertise, an unwavering commitment to amplifying affected voices, and a belief in the power of independent journalism to drive real change.

    We need your help to sustain and expand our work. Your donation will support our unique approach to journalism, helping fund everything from field-based investigations to the innovative storytelling that ensures marginalised voices are heard.

    Please consider joining our membership programme. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful impact on how the world responds to crises.

    Become a member of The New Humanitarian

    Support our journalism and become more involved in our community. Help us deliver informative, accessible, independent journalism that you can trust and provides accountability to the millions of people affected by crises worldwide.

    Join