April 30, 2005

Is the ceasefire over? The "Ninja rebels" are reportedly active again in Congo's Pool region (north of the capital, Brazzaville). Ninjas fired on a UN convoy on April 25. The attack took place southwest of the capital, outside the Ninjas' stronghold, but in an area where they have hit convoys in the past. There were no casualties but the rebels robbed the convoy. Many of  the Ninjas are "former rebels", since they haven't come in from the bush and remained armed. The attacked convoy had representatives from several UN agencies, including UNESCO. The ninjas are turning into bandits, which is common after civil wars, when many of the losers (and some of the winners) prefer to  continue taking what they want at gunpoint.