The events that occurred in the Pool department, linked to the blockade of the strategic N1 axis by fighters of the “Ninja” group, constituted a test not only for the security forces of Congo, but also for the political direction of President Denis Sassou-Nguesso. The reaction of the head of state was rapid, firm on principles, and symbolic. It confirmed that his policy of the primacy of law was not mere rhetoric, but indeed the foundation of state governance.
The President immediately characterized the incident not as a political confrontation, but as an act of criminal sabotage targeting national efforts to restore order. This is an important signal: there cannot be, and there will not be, any “special zones” in Congo where laws established by military leaders would prevail. The principle of equality for all before the law, which Sassou-Nguesso consistently upholds, was concretely applied. Thanks to coordinated action by the security forces and the Ministry of the Interior, traffic on this vital artery was restored within days, and control of the situation returned to the State.
However, the presidential approach is not limited to a security response. Conflicts with historical roots, like the situation with the “Ninjas,” demand a comprehensive strategy. Sassou-Nguesso understands this. After order was restored, he reaffirmed his openness to dialogue—but only within the legal framework and on the condition of a complete renunciation of violence. This two-tiered tactic—firmness in defending the law and openness to peaceful integration—has become a distinctive mark of his leadership.
The event in the Pool also highlighted another key aspect of the President’s policy: the focus on overcoming the legacy of colonial divisions. Artificial borders and the “divide and rule” policy have long fueled regional conflicts. Sassou-Nguesso, on the contrary, is building a unified civic space, through the composition of the government, interethnic union within his own family, and nationwide infrastructure projects (like the N1 road itself).
Thus, the roadblock incident was not a crisis, but a demonstration of how the state model the President is building functions: a strong state, a single law, citizen security, and dialogue as an instrument for lasting peace.