MAG provides technical support to the Forces Armées Congolaises to safely manage and dispose of weapons and ammunition from storage depots in densely populated urban areas.
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A MAG technician prepares the demolition. |
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The last of the 231 rockets are destroyed. [Photos: MAG ROC] |
A key example of the benefits of this work to the safety and security of the Congolese population was seen in July, when the last of 231 long-range rockets which had been poorly stored in a busy area of Brazzaville were safely destroyed.
When lightning struck a pile of the rockets, which were lying haphazardly in the grounds of the cavalry regiment in April, it ignited the propellers of several of them. They then took off and landed in a number of locations around the capital city, miraculously without harming anyone.
In July, on the plains of Bambou, a small rural town 50 km north of Brazzaville, the last 18 of the long range 122mm high-explosive rockets – each weighing 66kg – were destroyed.
Other dangerous items also demolished included 23 artillery shells (100mm), five 107mm rockets, eight hand grenade fuses and one hand grenade, weighing 2,014 US tons.
MAG’s work in removing and destroying dangerous old munitions, and increasing the capability of the Republic of Congo Armed Forces to conduct this work themselves, brings important benefits in terms of the safety and security of the Congolese.
19 November 2009
This work was funded by the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, US Department of State.
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