AGL 41.50 Increased By ▲ 2.96 (7.68%)
AIRLINK 128.00 Decreased By ▼ -1.50 (-1.16%)
BOP 6.26 Increased By ▲ 0.65 (11.59%)
CNERGY 4.13 Increased By ▲ 0.27 (6.99%)
DCL 8.44 Decreased By ▼ -0.29 (-3.32%)
DFML 40.69 Decreased By ▼ -1.07 (-2.56%)
DGKC 87.90 Decreased By ▼ -0.40 (-0.45%)
FCCL 34.10 Decreased By ▼ -0.90 (-2.57%)
FFBL 66.33 Decreased By ▼ -1.02 (-1.51%)
FFL 10.56 Decreased By ▼ -0.05 (-0.47%)
HUBC 108.70 Decreased By ▼ -0.06 (-0.06%)
HUMNL 14.46 Decreased By ▼ -0.20 (-1.36%)
KEL 4.65 Decreased By ▼ -0.10 (-2.11%)
KOSM 7.33 Increased By ▲ 0.38 (5.47%)
MLCF 42.72 Increased By ▲ 1.07 (2.57%)
NBP 60.84 Increased By ▲ 1.24 (2.08%)
OGDC 178.97 Decreased By ▼ -4.03 (-2.2%)
PAEL 25.70 Decreased By ▼ -0.55 (-2.1%)
PIBTL 6.06 Increased By ▲ 0.09 (1.51%)
PPL 146.15 Decreased By ▼ -0.55 (-0.37%)
PRL 24.91 Increased By ▲ 1.30 (5.51%)
PTC 16.14 Decreased By ▼ -0.42 (-2.54%)
SEARL 70.20 Increased By ▲ 1.90 (2.78%)
TELE 7.22 Decreased By ▼ -0.01 (-0.14%)
TOMCL 36.20 Increased By ▲ 0.25 (0.7%)
TPLP 7.84 Decreased By ▼ -0.01 (-0.13%)
TREET 15.59 Increased By ▲ 1.39 (9.79%)
TRG 50.36 Decreased By ▼ -0.09 (-0.18%)
UNITY 26.90 Increased By ▲ 0.15 (0.56%)
WTL 1.24 Increased By ▲ 0.03 (2.48%)
BR100 9,795 Decreased By -11.1 (-0.11%)
BR30 29,647 Decreased By -31.2 (-0.1%)
KSE100 92,021 Decreased By -282.9 (-0.31%)
KSE30 28,665 Decreased By -175.5 (-0.61%)

A key Congolese rebel group signed a ceasefire deal with the central government in Brazzaville on Saturday, after months of renewed armed conflict in the oil-rich nation. Fighters loyal to ex-rebel chief Frederic Bintsamou - seen as having disbanded after a 2003 peace deal - rose up again April last year in protest at the re-election of President Denis Sassou Nguesso.
The fighting in the southern Pool region affected at least 138,000 people and halted district elections in July. It also cut off crucial transport routes between the capital Brazzaville and the main oil port - worsening an already dire economic situation for the country affected by plunging crude prices.
The new ceasefire deal was signed in Pool's regional capital Kinkala between government officials and Jean-Gustave Ntondo, a representative of Bintsamou. "The accord is good news at a time when the economic situation is not very good," government spokesman Thierry Moungalla told AFP.
"The ceasefire begins today," said Ntondo who was only recently released from jail along with another Bintsamou ally. According to the short agreement, Bintsamou, also known as Pastor Ntumi, committed to "facilitating the collection of weapons held by the ex-combattants" and to not "hinder" the restoration of state authority in the Pool region.
The government said it would support the "professional, social and economic reintegration" of the rebels once they handed over their arms. Brazzaville also said it would guarantee the return of displaced people. A commission with representatives from both sides is to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire.
The Paris-based opposition group Sassoufit said the "accord's spirit is positive", but queried whether Ntondo may have been forced to sign the deal under duress. President Sassou Nguesso, 73, has led Congo for over 30 years. The former paratrooper served as president from 1979 to 1992, and then returned to power in 1997 following a civil war with Pastor Ntumi's so-called ninja rebels.

Comments

Comments are closed.