Some came wearing magic charms, some in loin cloths, some completely naked. The accounts told by fleeing civilians of the rebel entry into Liberia’s capital might elsewhere seem bizarre, but in this war-blighted West African land they are all too familiar harbingers of death and desolation. “We saw guys with zeke (charms) on their heads. Some were in just loin cloths, some were just in T-shirts and some were completely naked,” said Mary Ann, describing the rebels of Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD). A slight lull in the battle for Monrovia’s northwestern suburbs on Tuesday allowed thousands more people to slink from a battleground between rebels and President Charles Taylor’s forces, where they expect to be the main victims. “They had young children, really young children, to carry their ammunition boxes,” Mary Ann said. Others had similar stories. They saw rebels carrying earthenware pots containing burning coals dosed with magic, which they placed in the road to help them in their combat. Magic has played a big part in Liberia’s 14 years of bloodshed even if most of the killing is with assault rifles and knives. Full Story
About OODA Analyst
OODA is comprised of a unique team of international experts capable of providing advanced intelligence and analysis, strategy and planning support, risk and threat management, training, decision support, crisis response, and security services to global corporations and governments.