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by Our Foreign Desk
MILITIA loyal to former Republic of Congo president Pascal Lissouba attacked an army post and burned police stations in the capital Brazzaville yesterday.
Heavy gunfire rang out across the city as police restored order and residents forced from their homes fled into unaffected districts.
Former members of the Ninjas Nsiloulou militia attacked a military position in the Mayanga district and torched police stations in Djoue, Makelekele, Lemina and Kinsoundi, along with the mayor’s office in Makelekele.
The new outbreak of fighting came just two weeks after the re-election of veteran President Denis Sassou N’Guesso, following a referendum to lift term and age limits.
Mr N’Guesso led his Congolese Party of Labour government from 1979 to 1992, when he was defeated by Mr Lissouba.
He returned to power after overthrowing Mr Lissouba in the 1997 civil war, in which the Ninjas fought against Mr N’Guesso’s Cobra militia and supporting Angolan troops.
Founded by opposition leader Bernard Kolelas, the Ninjas were led by renegade pastor Frederic Bitsangou.
They signed 1999 ceasefire agreements, but took up arms again in the early 2000s to demand a role in military and political decisions. A peace deal was signed in 2003 between the militia and government.
Anti-government protesters clashed with security forces in the run-up to the October referendum, though the later election period was calm.
The government said it was investigating whether the violence was election-related and condemned any candidates who may have called for unrest.
