Fighting continues in Pool region, IDP numbers rising

Combat between government forces, assisted by Angolan forces, and the "Ninja" militias of Rev Frederic Bitsangou (alias Ntoumi) is continuing in various locations of Pool region, and the number of displaced and affected persons in the interior appears to be rising, humanitarian sources in the Republic of Congo (ROC) reported on Sunday.

The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the interior of Pool region (surrounding the capital, Brazzaville) remains unknown, as humanitarian organisations have not been able to reach most due to insecurity. Thus far, visits have only been made to the city of Kinkala (79 km west of Brazzaville) last week, where 3,500 displaced persons have gathered in three sites, in need of food assistance presently blocked by insecurity. The population of numerous other villages in Pool has fled, but it is unclear as to where. In the town of Kindamba (170 km northwest of Brazzaville, also in Pool), the Congolese government has reported some 5,000 IDPs who also remain inaccessible due to insecurity.

There are also reports of IDPs in neighbouring regions. In Bouenza region, southwest of Pool, a number of towns host groups of 500 to 1,000 IDPs, who have been visited by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Assistance to these populations is due to start this week. Medecins Sans Frontieres-Holland visited Djambala in the Plateaux region, north of Pool, where they found 200 IDPs living with family members. In Lekoumou region, northwest of Pool, a joint International Rescue Committee - United Nations mission has been sent to evaluate the situation.

The situation in Brazzaville is said to have stabilised in recent days, and almost all displaced are reported to be lodging with family or friends. Their numbers were estimated to have reached at least 50,000 last week, but some have since returned. "The authorities promised that road blocks and check points would be removed, and most were by the following morning," UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator William Paton stated. "This contributed to reducing the tension in Brazzaville itself, and some of the displaced could be seen returning to their houses."

While reporting on Friday that life in the capital had returned to normal, the government noted that schools remained closed. However, most international airlines have maintained their regular flights to Brazzaville.

On Friday, the Secretary general of the Organisation of African Unity, Amara Essy, issued a statement expressing his concern over recent events in the ROC. He called for "calm and restraint", and launched an appeal to all political leaders as well as the Congolese people "to continue to work towards the consolidation of peace and national reconciliation in Congo".

Meanwhile, legislative elections in the country have been postponed. On 12 April, newly-elected President Denis Sassou-Nguesso held a cabinet meeting during which it was decided that elections would be delayed two weeks and rescheduled for 26 May. The deadline for submission of candidature was pushed back two weeks as well, to 26 April. Reasons given by the government included ongoing insecurity and the need to correct irregularities reported in the presidential election held on 10 March 2001.