BRAZZAVILLE, Feb 4 (Reuters) - The leader of Congo
Republic's self-styled "Ninja" rebels has told his loyalists to
take guns from the unruly members of his movement and make
themselves more presentable by trimming their ragged locks.
An aide to the leader, renegade Christian pastor Frederic
Ntoumi, said on Friday rogue elements should be disarmed to
ensure partial legislative polls go ahead peacefully in the Pool
region this year.
In 2002 people were prevented from voting in 8 out of 13
districts in the Ninja's heartland due to a lack of security.
The aide said the charismatic leader had ordered forces
still loyal to him to take weapons away from those "uncontrolled
Ninjas who have annoyingly taken to robbery, rape, hold-ups and
looting".
Ntoumi promised to "guarantee the security and free movement
of people and goods in the whole Pool region", the aide said.
Ntoumi also told loyalists to get a haircut, saying they
needed to clean up their image if they wanted to take part in
the election campaign, or stand as candidates.
The partial polls are meant to fill the eight seats
representing the Pool region in parliament which have remained
vacant since the 2002 election.
The Ninja rebels, who take their name from ancient Japanese
warriors glamorised by Hollywood, are known for their trademark
purple scarves and Rasta-style dreadlocks.
They fought in a brief civil war in 1997 alongside opponents
of President Denis Sassou Nguesso, who seized power in the
central African oil producer during the conflict.
Since then, several peace deals have been signed and
disarmament dates set, but most Ninjas have yet to lay down
their guns. Many have turned to banditry and holding up trains
-- making the Pool region virtually a no-go zone.
Government officials have put the total number of militia
fighters that need to be demobilised in the country at 37,000,
while aid workers have called Congo's simmering crisis a
forgotten conflict which could reignite soon.
Sporadic outbreaks of violence since independence from
France in 1960 have killed tens of thousands of people in Congo
Republic, a nation of just over 3 million people.
The violence has often reflected a long-standing power
struggle between the densely populated agricultural south and
the north -- where Sassou Nguesso hails from.
((Writing by Silvia Aloisi; editing by David Clarke; Dakar
newsroom +221 864 50 76))
Republic's self-styled "Ninja" rebels has told his loyalists to
take guns from the unruly members of his movement and make
themselves more presentable by trimming their ragged locks.
An aide to the leader, renegade Christian pastor Frederic
Ntoumi, said on Friday rogue elements should be disarmed to
ensure partial legislative polls go ahead peacefully in the Pool
region this year.
In 2002 people were prevented from voting in 8 out of 13
districts in the Ninja's heartland due to a lack of security.
The aide said the charismatic leader had ordered forces
still loyal to him to take weapons away from those "uncontrolled
Ninjas who have annoyingly taken to robbery, rape, hold-ups and
looting".
Ntoumi promised to "guarantee the security and free movement
of people and goods in the whole Pool region", the aide said.
Ntoumi also told loyalists to get a haircut, saying they
needed to clean up their image if they wanted to take part in
the election campaign, or stand as candidates.
The partial polls are meant to fill the eight seats
representing the Pool region in parliament which have remained
vacant since the 2002 election.
The Ninja rebels, who take their name from ancient Japanese
warriors glamorised by Hollywood, are known for their trademark
purple scarves and Rasta-style dreadlocks.
They fought in a brief civil war in 1997 alongside opponents
of President Denis Sassou Nguesso, who seized power in the
central African oil producer during the conflict.
Since then, several peace deals have been signed and
disarmament dates set, but most Ninjas have yet to lay down
their guns. Many have turned to banditry and holding up trains
-- making the Pool region virtually a no-go zone.
Government officials have put the total number of militia
fighters that need to be demobilised in the country at 37,000,
while aid workers have called Congo's simmering crisis a
forgotten conflict which could reignite soon.
Sporadic outbreaks of violence since independence from
France in 1960 have killed tens of thousands of people in Congo
Republic, a nation of just over 3 million people.
The violence has often reflected a long-standing power
struggle between the densely populated agricultural south and
the north -- where Sassou Nguesso hails from.
((Writing by Silvia Aloisi; editing by David Clarke; Dakar
newsroom +221 864 50 76))
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