SIERRA LEONE-POLITICS: A New Militia Emerges In The North

By Lansana Fofana Reprint | | Print |

Lansana Fofana

MAKENI, Sierra Leone, May 9 1997 (IPS) - While the government has been trying to scale down the activities of the Kamajors, a local militia in the South-Eastern part of the country, a new group has emerged in the North.

The local authorities in many Northern towns and villages have formed a new militia known as the Kapras “to patrol their localities and to ensure that they are safe”.

“We saw the need for the formation of the Kapra militia and everyone in the North is today proud of what they’ve been doing so far,” a local village head, Pa Santigie Sesay, told IPS in the village of Makump in the Port Loko district.

“The rebels (Revolutionary United Front) are still very much active around here and our Kapra units haven’t spared a second to mount counter-offensives against them, wherever they strike. This entire area is quite safe,” he added.

The Kapras are also local hunters and have similar characteristics as the Kamajors. Their exact numbers is not known, but it appears as if they have been operating in every Northern town and village for the past three to four months.

They too are believed to possess the power to disappear at will. It is also believed that bullets bounce off of the hunters, and that just by chanting certain words, they can cause sophisticated guns to fall silent.

According to military analysts here, the Kapras have emerged in the North, because of the shifting of the battlefront to the Northern towns of Mile 91, Yele and Magburaka.

Since the signing of the Peace Accord between the government and the RUF rebels last November, more than 20 cease-fire violations have been reported in the North and South-eastern regions.

Earlier this week, a surprised attack on Mile 91 by RUF rebels seeking food was resisted by the Kapras, leaving 14 rebels dead, according to reports.

Like the Kamajors, who have now been restricted to their home areas, there is no constitutional mandate for the Kapras’ activities, which has caused consternation among some sections of the military and within the civilian population.

“Already we’ve seen how Kamajors, basking in their new-found military glory, have been colliding with soldiers and causing unrest in Kenema, Moyamba and other districts,” said retired army officer John Roberts. “I see no need for the creation of a new militia.

“This will send the wrong signals to the rebels and peace brokers that the government side is not quite playing the game by the rules,” Roberts added.

The Kapras and government soldiers have also clashed in the North. According to a local journalist in Makeni, the northern regional capital, a bloody battle between the militia and government soldiers occurred two weeks ago.

“More than 10 combattants on both sides were killed in the fighting and aid agencies were prevented from carrying out their normal activities,” the journalist said.

The government soldiers’ popularity among the local population continues to decline, and many civilians put their trust in the local militia to protect them from rebel attacks.

“The days of soldier power are over. We trust the Kapras to protect our towns and villages because we know the soldiers are incapable of doing that,” said Francis Sesay, a spokesman for the Northern Displaced Persons Organisation.

And, Musu Serry who lives in the Northern town of Magburaka, 240 kms from the capital Freetown, echoed this view: “I doubt the supernatural powers of the Kamajors and Kapras because many have been killed in fighting recently,” she said.

“The only thing I accept is that they are much more reliable than the soldiers in patrolling the towns and villages,” she added.