Congo: Opposition leader calls for probe into Monday's deadly violence in Brazzaville

An opposition leader in Congo has called for the government to investigate Monday’s violence that occured in some parts of the capital, Brazzaville.

Guy-Brice Parfait Kolélas questioned the governments reaction to the incident after government spokesman Thierry Moungalla said that former members of the “Ninja” militia that fought president Sassou Nguesso in a 1997 civil war had triggered the violence.

The Ninjas were loyal to former Prime Minister Bernard Kolélas , the father of Guy who stood in the presidential election in March and got 15% of the vote.

Gun battles rattled the capital early Monday morning shattering an uneasy calm that followed President Dennis Sassou Nguesso’s re-election in a disputeed vote in March.

Hundreds of residents were seen fleeing the capital while some took shelter in churchers.

Despite the incident, the Constitutional Court on Monday evening affirmed the reelection of President Dennis Sassou Nguesso and dismissed motions by members of the opposition who were contesting the outcome of the polls.

Results given by the head of the court, Auguste Iloki, show that Sassou Nguesso won 60 percent of the March 20 vote, trailed by challenger Guy Brice Parfait Kolélas with 15 percent and Jean Marie Michel Mokoko with nearly 14 percent.

On Tuesday evening, government spokesman Thierry Moungalla took to social media and said that a “preliminary assessment “ by the government indicated that 17 people were killed in Monday’s violence.

Press Agencies