Early morning gunfire in Brazzaville hours after national peace and unity concert

About two hours of gunfire exchanges were heard in the early hours of Monday in three districts of Congo’s capital hours after a national peace and unity concert in Brazzaville.

#Congo: Early morning gunfire heard in three districts in #Brazzaville

— africanews (@africanews) April 4, 2016

The gunfire, according to Africanews sources, started after suspected Brazzaville Ninja militia attacked and burned down a police post in the Mayanga district of the capital at around 2am local time.

FLASH ! #CongoBrazzaville : Ca Tir depuis hier Soir au BaCongo. Deux PSP et le central de l'Angola libre sont brûlés pic.twitter.com/HmsaCj7RJO

— The Voice Of Congo (@VoiceOfCongo) April 4, 2016

Congo’s military was reported to have fought back the militia with gunfire exchanges through three districts including Makelekele, Kinsoundi and Bacongo. Helicopters were reported to be hovering over the city.

The immediate reason for the attack is not yet unknown.

Reuters reported that young opposition supporters set fire to the police building and a mayor’s office chanting “Sassou, leave!”

The news agency further reported that the youth erected barricades near the main roundabout in southern Brazzaville’s Makelekele neighbourhood.

Residents are frightened as others are moving from Brazzaville to other regions to seek safety, our source said.

The Ninja militia was formed by the politician and opposition candidate in the March 20 elections, Bernard Kolélas in the early 1990s and were commanded by Frédéric Bintsangou, alias Pastor Ntoumi when Kolelas was in exile. They participated in many wars in the 1990s and 2000s.