CONGO: ICRC resumes activities in Pool region

BRAZZAVILLE, 23 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) has resumed its activities in the Pool region of the Republic of Congo following an improvement in the security situation there in the past few weeks, the agency announced on Thursday.

In a statement, it said the changed situation had enabled it to resume its medical aid and water programmes to civilian populations; as well as its economic revival projects and awareness raising on international humanitarian law.

ICRC suspended operations in the southern Pool region on 11 January because of major security threats in the area. At the time, the ICRC delegate in the country, Christophe Martin, deplored the frequent looting of goods and death threats issued to ICRC agents.

According to sources, the overall insecurity in the Pool region is due to uncontrolled former rebels known as the Ninjas. The leader of the Ninjas, Frederic Bitsangou, alias Pastor Ntoumi, clashed with Congolese forces in the Pool, south of the capital Brazzaville, and in some neighbourhoods of the capital in 1998, 2003 and in 2005; even after the signing of a peace agreement in March 2003.

The demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration (DDR) of the Ninjas, as stipulated in the peace agreement, was launched symbolically in January 2004 but has not been implemented.

In January 2006, the World Bank donated US $17 million for the launching of a reintegration programme for 30,000 former rebels in eight of the country's 11 departments.

In the past, Bitsangou - operating from his "fiefdom" in Mvindza - had suspended the disarmament of his militia on several occasions, even after signing the agreement with the government of President Denis Sassou-Nguesso.

[ENDS]