June 14, 2007:
A group of former "ninjas"
(Congo-Brazzaville rebel group) performed a "commitment ceremony" in
Brazzaville last week. This was intended to demonstrate they are committed to
the peace process. The ceremony included burning weapons, including light arms and "ground to air" missiles (man-portable
surface to air missiles). One of the ninja leader (Pastor Frederic Ntoumi) said
that the rebel group will become a "constructive opposition" in a political
process. Clean-up from the war continues. Though ninja spokesmen deny it, a few
former rebels have become thieves and bandits. They are operating in
Congo-Brazzaville's "Pool" region - where most of the civil war's fighting took
place.