Congo-Brazzaville's military has carried out air strikes in residential areas in the south-eastern Poole region, reportedly causing deaths and destroying churches, schools and medical facilities, Amnesty International has said.
Eyewitnesses told the organisation that on 5 April, helicopters dropped at least 30 bombs on residential areas, including in the town of Vindza where the target was a house which used to be the residence of Pastor Frederic Ntumi, the leader of the Ninja militia group.
“Government forces have deliberately and unlawfully attacked people. It is shocking that they bombed residential areas in response to the violence that occurred in Brazzaville on 4 April," Amnesty said in a statement.
Militia fighters raided the capital, Brazzaville, on 4 April, attacking an army position and four police stations, the government said at the time.
The Ninjas were a major anti-government force in the 1997-99 civil war in Congo-Brazzaville, but disbanded after a peace deal was signed in 2003.
They were loyal to former Prime Minister Bernard Kolelas, the father of Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas, who stood in the presidential election in March and got 15% of the vote.
BBC Africa report
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