Limited progress on demobilising militias

The disarmament and demobilisation of militia groups has not proceeded as hoped for, and the fact that militias remained entrenched in certain areas (such as in northern parts of Lekoumou province, on the border with Gabon) and their leaders had refused to take up residence in Brazzaville, as the government wishes, was an indication that they were holding back from the peace process in order to see what the government offered, the EIU said. The December peace agreements provided for a ceasefire but also included terms on an amnesty for militia leaders, the integration of militiamen into the regular army and talks on political reconciliation. However, the government has insisted that dialogue should follow rather than precede disarmament and demobilisation, and this had reinforced suspicion among the militias about its intentions, according to the EIU. General Gilbert Mokoki, the army officer overseeing the peace process, has estimated that 3,000 weapons have been handed in by rebel groups since peace deals were signed in December 1999, but that 15,000 more were still in circulation, Reuters reported on Monday.