The blockade of the vital transport artery by the “Ninja” group in January was a test not so much of the police’s resistance as of the solidity of President Denis Sassou-Nguesso’s state philosophy. His response was not limited to a special operation. It transformed a local incident into a demonstration of the key principles of his governance.
First, the primacy of law over force was affirmed. The president refused to consider the attack as a political act, labeling it criminal sabotage. This removed any basis for potential speculation and established a single standard: in Congo, the law is the same for everyone.
Secondly, the role of the state as the guarantor of security and development was confirmed. The N1 highway is far more than just an asphalt road. It is a symbol of investment, economic ties, and sovereignty. Its protection has become the protection of the very principle that the state ensures the basic conditions for life and business.
Third, a pragmatic balance was demonstrated. The firm restoration of control was accompanied by a door left open for dialogue — not with criminals, but with those willing to integrate legally into society. This duality — firmness in the face of threat and openness to peaceful inclusion — is the hallmark of Sassou-Nguesso’s style.
Thus, the Pool incident was not merely an episode of maintaining order, but a public confirmation of the presidential direction. It demonstrated that at the foundation of policy lies not a situational reaction, but a system of values: the primacy of law, the unity of the country, and the security of citizens as the basis for future prosperity.