Cease Fire: Agreement on Ending Hostilities in the Republic of Congo
Implementations
Cease Fire – 2000
The Agreement on Ending Hostilities in the Republic of Congo (29 December 1999) sought to end armed conflict throughout the Republic of Congo and particularly in the Bouenza, Pool, Lekoumou, Niari, and Kouilou regions. All parties to the accord, in this regard, agreed to give up their arms and establish a Monitoring Commission for the Agreements on Ceasefire and Ending Hostilities, responsible for monitoring and verifying stipulations for the implementation of the ceasefire in conflict zones. Parties to the conflict reached an agreement on the modality, function, and composition of the Monitoring Commission on 10 January 2000. On 14 February 2000, four different presidential decrees were announced on the creation, organization, and operation of the Monitoring Commission for the Agreements on Ceasefire and Ending Hostilities (decree 2000-4), for the organization and operation of the Coordination Committee General Secretariat of the Monitoring Commission (decree 2000-5), for the appointment of members of the executive committee of the Monitoring Commission (decree 2000-6), and for the appointment of members of the General Secretariat of the Monitoring Commission (decree 2000-7).1 The Monitoring Commission had a Coordination Committee and an Executive Committee (Article 3, Decree 2000-4); there was an international observer in the Executive Committee (Article 9, Decree 2000-4), which was organized into several specialized working committees, including committees for the collection of weapons and war ammunition (Article 10, Decree 2000-4). The decree also established regional committees throughout the national territory that also included international observers (Article 15 and 17, Decree 2000-4). The Executive Committee was chaired by General GilbertMokoki.2 Louis Gaston Matanghoye was the international observer in the Executive Committee.3
There was no report of violation of the ceasefire agreement.
- “Décrte Portant Création, Organisation et Fonctionnement du Comité de Suivi Des Accords de Cessez-le-Feu et de Cessation des Hostilités en République du Congo,” Presidence de La Republique (Decrét No 2000—4, 2000-5, 2000-6, 2000-7), February 14, 2000.
- “International Meeting on the Republic of the Congo: A Country in Transition,” ReliefWeb, accessed February 23, 2012, http://reliefweb.int/node/66683.
- “Agreement on Ending Hostilities in the Republic of Congo,” Public International Law & Policy Group, accessed February 17, 2012, http://publicinternationallawandpolicygroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/….
Cease Fire – 2001
Clashes were reported in 2001. There were some clashes on 19 and 20 May 2001 between the army and armed men identified as ex-militia loyal to former Prime Minister Bernard Kolelas. In an incident, two civilians and one soldier died and an estimated 30,000 inhabitants were internally displaced. The Congo Armed Force (FAC) was dispatched to the conflict site to beef up the security.1
- “ROC: Additional troops sent to restore security in Mindouli,” IRIN News, EAST AFRICA: IRIN-CEA Weekly Round-up 77 (9 – 15 June 2001), accessed May 18, 2012, http://www.irinnews.org/printreport.aspx?reportid=22195#rocadd.
Cease Fire – 2002
Rebel forces were still in control of the town of Vindza in the Pool region in 2002, but the government recaptured the town of Kimba from the rebel groups.1 In April 2002, the rebels had captured and took an army general hostage, which preluded a distinctive conflict beginning in June 2002.2 The Ntsiloulous faction was fighting for their role in the army and in political decisions. As tensions grew, the rebels attacked the capital city, Brazzaville, which was the first such attack in the capital since the conflict restarted.3 The attack on Brazzaville was dubbed a terrorist act by President Denis Sassou-Nguesso.4 In November 2002, the President gave a month for rebels to surrender.5 Along with the Ntsiloulou group, their leader, Ntoumi, maintained hold of the Pool region with some 1,500 combatants. In late March 2002, fighting re-erupted between Ntsiloulou fighters and the government troops.
- “Government forces recapture southern Republic of Congo town, reports say,” Associated Press, May 23, 2002.
- “Republic of Congo’s ‘Ninja’ rebels take general hostage; Catholic priest missing,” Associated Press, April 6, 2002.
- “Gunfire breaks out in capital of Republic of Congo,” Associated Press, June 14, 2002.
- “President says rebel attack on the Republic of Congo’s capital was terrorist act.” Associated Press, June 19, 2002.
- “Republic of Congo president gives Ninja rebels one month to lay down arms.” Associated Press, November 19, 2002.
Cease Fire – 2003
Ceasefire violations continued in early 2003. The Ntsiloulou rebels attacked a series of villages in the southern Republic of Congo in the regions of Pool and Bouenza. This group was led by renegade pastor Frederic Bitsangou, who had signed the 1999 ceasefire agreements but had taken up arms again. In the attacks more than 15 villagers were killed and the rebels looted and torched homes.1 The Nsiloulous rebels attacked a military train in February, killing one civilian and one soldier.2
There was no report of a violation of the ceasefire after the first three months. This could be attributed to secret negotiations between the government and the Ntsiloulous. Both sides reached an agreement in March 2003 in which the Ntsiloulous reaffirmed their commitment to the 1999 accords and, in return, the government offered amnesty and integration of Ntsiloulous into the national armed forces.3
- “Rebels attack villages in Republic of Congo, killing more than 15,” Associated Press, January 5, 2003.
- “Republic of Congo rebels attack military train, killing 2,” Associated Press, February 7, 2003.
- “UCDP Conflict Encyclopedia,” Uppsala Conflict Data Program, accessed February 23, 2012, www.ucdp.uu.se/database.
Cease Fire – 2004
Low-intensity violence was reported during this year. A rail service between the Republic of Congo’s main port of Pointe-Noire and the capital city, Brazzaville, was disrupted by Ninja/Nsiloulous rebels.1
- “Congo: Rebels cut train service to coast,” IRIN News, accessed May 18, 2012, http://www.irinnews.org/Report/51754/CONGO-Rebels-cut-train-service-to-c… “Republic of Congo rebel attacks force suspension of key railway line,” Associated Press, October 19, 2004.
Cease Fire – 2005
A few violent incidents involving ex-rebels were reported in October. In one incident, ex-rebels detonated bombs in the capital of Brazzaville several times in one week. It was also reported that the government security forces had launched an operation to uproot former rebels who did not disarm after the 2003 agreement.1 In April, ex-rebels looted UN convoys on their way to a humanitarian mission to assess needs in the poverty-stricken region of the country.2
- “Government forces battle ex-rebels in Republic of Congo capital,” Associated Press, October 19, 2005.
- “Rebels stop, loot U.N. convoy in Republic of Congo,” Associated Press, April 24, 2005.
Cease Fire – 2006
It was reported that the International Red Cross had halted its operations in the south of the Republic of Congo in January 2006. The halt came after a threat was made against its staff.1 This constituted a violation of the ceasefire agreement. Nevertheless, no clash was reported.
- “Red Cross suspends operations in southern Republic of Congo for security concerns,” Associated Press, January 16, 2006.
Cease Fire – 2007
Ntsoulous rebels blocked key railway lines in September 2007 and the army and ex-rebels exchanged gun-fire. The incident was related to the failure of Frederic Bitsangou to take up his new post as Peace Minister in Brazzaville as planned.1
Cease Fire – 2008
No violation of the ceasefire was reported since 2007.
Cease Fire – 2009
No violation of the ceasefire was reported.