Khareen Pech
The National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) approved the sale of arms worth more than R60-million to President Pascal Lissouba’s army last year, months before the outbreak of hostilities that have torn Congo (Brazzaville) asunder.
Official sources claim the deal involved only non-lethal equipment. But French sources in Paris say South African-origin weapons, including 107mm multiple rocket launchers, turned up recently in the port of Pointe Noire.
NCACC chair Kader Asmal was unavailable for comment this week as he is abroad.
Lissouba has also beefed up his air force with new Russian helicopters and a crew of Russian MiG jet fighter pilots. Napalm bombs and ground-to-air missiles are also said to have been delivered.
Last month, several South African helicopter pilots who formerly worked for Executive Outcomes were approached by representatives of Lissouba to supply an air wing of 12 combat pilots. Ten British ex-military advisers also arrived recently in the capital, Brazzaville, to train and command Lissouba’s own “Zoulous” militia, say sources in the capital.
Lissouba’s opponent, Sassou Nguesso, has not refrained from stiffening his own militia with more than 100 European soldiers. Nguesso is also counting on military support from the Angolan government and the Congo (Kinshasa) government of Laurent Kabila.
Nguesso is in regular contact by satellite phone with senior African National Congress leaders who are determined not to isolate any one party, a representative of his French-led force told the Mail & Guardian.