Marek News Briefs: Congo Republic
Albert Siassia and his French-born wife,
Annie Siassia have filed a suit in the Paris tribunal against President
Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Congo Republic for atrocities committed against
them during the civil war before they fled to France in December 1998.
Also accused are Nguesso's two serving ministers and army generals. Ruth
Nabakwe reported for PANA on December 15 that all of Siassia's property
was looted by the soldiers who attacked his farm claiming that he acquired
the property under Lissouba's regime. The soldiers allegedly invaded their
home, and put them against the wall with the purpose of killing them. Siassia
said he escaped death when he was shot twice in the thorax. His wife pleaded
for his life and the soldiers ordered him to go to the hospital for treatment.
The French consul at Pointe-Noire ultimately helped the couple to leave
the country for France on a flight via Libreville, Gabon. An association
comprising Congolese and French nationals for the couple and other victims
of atrocities committed in Congo has been created to provide moral, health
and financial support. Besides Nguesso, the couple pressed charges against
Energy Minister Tassoua, Communications Minister Francois Ibovi and army
generals Yves Motando Mongo, Norbert Dabira, Blaise Adoua, Phillipe Longonda
and Jacques Morlende, among others, for their role in the atrocities. This
law suit could set a trend, and more important, could open Pandora's Box
to reveal what really happened when the democratically elected government
of Pascal Lissouba was overthrown in 1997 by an invading Angolan force
that combined with Sassou's militia, all of whom were allegedly supported
by France.