Mindouli, Pool: a call for orderly return
Brazzaville, Jan. 15 (ACI) — Séraphin Ondélé, the prefect who also serves as chief of staff to the Minister of Interior and Decentralisation and as chair of the Commission ad-hoc mixte paritaire (CAMP), appealed on Wednesday for dispersed residents of Mindouli, in the Pool department, to return to their respective homes. His message, delivered in Brazzaville, sought to encourage a resumption of daily activities “in quiet and serenity,” after a period of heightened tension in the locality.
Ondélé’s appeal was framed as a reassurance that a return to normal life is both desirable and, in the authorities’ view, attainable, provided that the restoration of calm is supported by civic discipline and responsible communication. The emphasis on a peaceful return also reflects a broader objective: preventing fear and uncertainty from becoming entrenched after a security incident.
CAMP meeting reviews January 11 incidents in Mindouli
The remarks were made during a press briefing held at the end of a CAMP meeting that took place from Jan. 12 to Jan. 15. According to ACI, the session focused on the tragic events reported on Jan. 11 in Mindouli, discussed within the framework of the ceasefire and cessation-of-hostilities agreement between the Government and Reverend Pastor Frédéric Ntumi Bintsamou.
CAMP is presented as the mechanism tasked with implementing that agreement and ensuring that its provisions translate into tangible stability on the ground. By convening over several days and then addressing the public, the commission signalled an intention to treat the Mindouli episode not as an isolated headline, but as a matter requiring structured follow-up within an established peace architecture.
Public order and freedom of movement as stated priorities
At the briefing, Ondélé stated that public order, which he said had been disturbed, must be restored, consolidated and maintained. He linked this objective to a practical benchmark of stability: guaranteeing the circulation of people and goods.
In a department that has, at different moments, been associated with security-sensitive dynamics, freedom of movement carries economic and social significance. It affects market supply, access to services, and the daily rhythms that allow communities to recover from disruption. In that sense, the insistence on public order was cast not merely as a policing imperative, but as a condition for normal civic and commercial life.
Civic responsibility: laws, rights and social media conduct
Ondélé also urged citizens in Mindouli to observe the Republic’s laws and regulations, which he described as intended to ensure respect for the rights and freedoms of all. The appeal suggested a dual expectation: that residents return to routine activities, and that they do so within a framework of legality that protects collective security.
Beyond the local call for compliance, he addressed the role of online discourse. He appealed to social media users to demonstrate responsibility regarding the content they publish, particularly content that, in the commission’s view, does not contribute to easing tensions. The point underscores how information flows, rumours and emotionally charged commentary can shape perceptions during sensitive moments, potentially complicating de-escalation efforts.
Ceasefire mechanism reiterates commitment to lasting resolution
In the same sequence, CAMP reaffirmed its commitment to continue working toward a definitive resolution of the situation, consistent with its mandate to implement the ceasefire and cessation-of-hostilities agreement cited by ACI.
The commission’s posture, as described, is one of continuity: maintaining engagement with the agreement’s mechanisms while addressing new incidents through consultation and public communication. For residents, the practical measure of that commitment will be whether calm and predictable daily life can be sustained in Mindouli and surrounding areas in the days ahead.
What ACI reports about the January 11 confrontation
ACI reports that the tragic events of Jan. 11 in Mindouli involved an opposition between agents of the Direction générale de la sécurité présidentielle (DGSP) and militiamen linked to Pastor Frédéric Ntumi Bintsamou, in the Pool department.
The report’s description places the incident within an already known configuration of actors referenced in the ceasefire framework. Without expanding beyond the facts cited, the authorities’ message on Jan. 15 was oriented toward stabilisation: encouraging residents to return, reinforcing respect for the law, and urging restraint in public commentary, while the commission charged with implementing the agreement continues its work. (ACI)
