BRAZZAVILE, 13. februar 2009: The Congolese government has started an operation to buy 3000 weapons from ex-combatants and others illegally possessing weapons in the Pool region, southern Congo, an official told IRIN News.
“The operation to buy up the weapons started on 10 February in the Pool region. It should allow the purchase of at least 3000 weapons still in circulation in this zone,” said Moandzibi Olingoba, commissioner in charge of the reintegration of ex-combatants.
The operation has funding of 500 million CFA francs (US Dollars 1 million) from the government. Its main target is the 5000 ex-combatant Ninjas still active under the former rebel chief, Frédéric Bintsamou, alias Pasteur Ntoumi, who has been cut off in his Pool stronghold for more than 10 years.
Pool was the scene of violent clashes between government forces and Ninja rebels from 1998 to 2003, leaving many thousands of victims and displaced people.
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