Ninja (militia)
Ninjas | |
---|---|
Frédéric Bintsangou a.k.a. Pastor Ntoumi | |
Dates of operation | Early 1990s–2008; 2016–2017 |
Headquarters | Brazzaville (until 1997) Pool Department |
Active regions | Republic of the Congo |
Size | Estimates of some hundred active; up to 3,000 loosely attached fighters as of 2002[1] |
Allies | 1993–94 conflict: Cobra militia 1997–99 Civil War: Cocoye militia Republic of the Congo (1997) |
Opponents | Republic of the Congo Cocoye militia (1993–94) Cobra militia (from 1997) Angola (1997)[2] |
Battles and wars |
|
The Ninjas were a
The militia fought the supporters of President Pascal Lissouba in the 1993–94 Civil War. In the 1997–99 Civil War, they allied with Lissouba's forces against the supporters of former President Denis Sassou Nguesso. After Sassou Nguesso's victory in this Civil War, Ntoumi's Ninjas fought an insurgency against his government in the Pool Department. The conflict in the Pool escalated in a series of violent clashes in 2002-03, after which the Ninja leadership eventually gave up their armed struggle. Ntoumi announced the disbanding of the Ninjas in 2008 but they resurfaced in 2016, starting the Pool War.
Character and ideology
Formed by and originally loyal to
History
1990s: Foundation and Civil War
The Republic of the Congo, formerly the
The
Sassou Nguesso's forces, supported by Angola, took control of Brazzaville in October 1997, and overthrew Lissouba's government. Sassou Nguesso returned to the presidency.[8] The Ninjas retreated to the Pool Department and fought an insurgency against the new government.[7] In 1999, leaders of the Ninjas and Cocoyes signed a ceasefire agreement. Following the ceasefire and defeats against government forces, about 2000 Ninjas and Cocoyes surrendered to the government. The ceasefire agreement was condemned by Kolélas. By 1999, American sources speculated if Kolélas and Lissouba were no longer in control of their militias.[2]
2000s: Pool insurgency
There were several major clashes between government forces and Ninjas in 2002 and 2003,[9] resulting in large humanitarian casualties.[10] In March 2003, Ninja leaders signed agreements with the government to cease hostilities in Pool. Despite the peace accords, many Ninja militiamen remained active, and engaged in robberies of civilians and train hijackings.[5] As of 2009[update], active Ninja remnants still exist in the southern Pool.[11]
In June 2007, Ntoumi announced that the Ninjas were "going into constructive opposition" and were determined "to work for peace in Pool and across the country". Ninja members led by Ntoumi burned around 100 of their weapons in a ceremony in Kinkala.[5] On June 10, 2008, the National Programme of Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration (NPDDR), aiming to reintegrate ex-combatants from the wars of the 1990s and 2000s into civilian society, was launched. Ntoumi spoke at the launching in Kinkala and announced the disbanding of the Ninjas.[12] He was offered a government post in September 2007, but remained in hiding until December 2009, when he went to Brazzaville to take up the post.[13]
Bernard Kolélas died in Paris in 2009.[4]
2010s: Pool war
In 2016, Bintsamou again raised his forces after contested modifications of the constitution by president Sassou-Nguesso.[14] On 4 April 2016, the Congolese government accused the Ninja militia of attacking security forces. The militia denied the accusations, calling them false pretext for political suppression.[14] Violence continued with events such as shelling by the Congolese armed forces and attacks on trains by the Ninja militia.[15][16] The Congolese government and the Ninja militia signed a ceasefire agreement on 23 December 2017. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the Ninjas were to hand over their arms and cease their interference with trade between the cities of Brazzaville and Pointe Noire.[17]
Human rights violations
According to a 2000 report by
References
- ^ a b c d "CONGO: Civilians bear brunt of attacks on "Ninja" rebels". IRIN News. 2003-06-03. Archived from the original on 2010-02-19. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
- ^ United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (2000-11-14). "Republic of Congo (Brazzaville): Information on the human rights situation and the Ninja militia". Archived from the originalon 2012-10-10. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
- ^ a b "CONGO: Profile of ex-Prime Minister Bernard Kolelas". IRIN News. 2005-12-09. Archived from the original on 2011-06-11. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
- ^ a b "Congo Ninja leader dies, aged 76". BBC News. 2009-11-13. Archived from the original on 2009-11-16. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
- ^ a b c Tsoumou, Christian (2007-06-08). "Congo's Ninja rebels burn weapons and pledge peace". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2009-08-04. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
- ^ Carroll, Rory (2003-12-07). "Apocalyptic rebel movement revisits Congo's heart of darkness". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2013-08-27. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
- ^ a b c d e Ali-Dinar, Ali B. (1999-02-17). "CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE: Background on militia groups". University of Pennsylvania: African Studies Center. Archived from the original on 2010-06-28. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
- ^ JSTOR 723683.
- ^ "Timeline: Republic of Congo". BBC News. 2009-08-01. Archived from the original on 2009-09-26. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
- ^ "CONGO: UN warns of "acute humanitarian crisis" in Pool region". IRIN News. 2003-09-03. Archived from the original on 2011-06-11. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
- ^ "Country profile: Republic of Congo". BBC News. 2009-08-01. Archived from the original on 2009-12-31. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
- ^ "CONGO: DDR gets under way for 30,000 ex-combatants". IRIN News. 2008-06-10. Archived from the original on 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
- ^ "In Brief: Former Congolese rebel chief takes up government post". IRIN News. 2009-12-29. Archived from the original on 2010-02-17. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
- ^ a b "Congo-Brazzaville : "Ne ramassez pas les corps !"" (in French). Paris Match. 15 September 2016.
- ^ Ngoussou, Ngouela (9 February 2017). "Des incidents dans le Pool empêchent le bon fonctionnement du CFCO au Congo". VOA Africa (in French). Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- ^ "Congo-Brazzaville: la partie de chasse de Sassou Nguesso" (in French). Paris Match. 13 October 2016.
- ^ McAllister, Edward; Elion, Christian; Powell, Stephen (24 December 2017). "Congo Republic signs peace accord with". Reuters Africa. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2018.