This man says his nephew was shot dead in the street by soldiers
He was in his 20s. We've hidden their identities for their safety
He says the soldiers from the Republic of Congo's presidential guard accused him of being a criminal
It was about three months ago. The presidential guard says it's been cracking down on violent crime
I rushed to the scene and saw the child's lifeless body on the ground
two bullet wounds, one on his forehead and two in his chest. His other uncle tried to film, but the presidential guard smashed his phone
and they told us not to have a funeral for the child or any family gathering
When the operation started four months ago, it was popular with some
Few people in Congo benefit from the country's vast oil wealth. Joining a gang is a way for many boys and young men to survive
Many people in the cities are tired of robberies. Rights groups say this video shows the execution of a young man called Inanga, Joseph Emmanuel
on 31 October by a soldier from the Presidential Guard in the rubble of his parents' house
which they say the soldiers had just bulldozed. The Presidential Guard says it's only killed gang members who have violently resisted arrest
Dozens of videos posted on social media claim to document the crackdown
A group called Action Centre for Development says it's received reports of more than 200
extrajudicial killings and that it's been able to identify 48 victims so far
President Denis Sasu who ruled the Republic of Congo for 42 of the last 47 years says the crackdown helping the victims of violent crime I confirm that the pursuit and dismantling of these lawless groups will continue in every
nook and cranny until the last bandit is captured. Therefore, I ask the public to resolutely
support the efforts of law enforcement in eradicating all these hardened criminals
The operation began in the capital Brazzaville at the end of September
In November it moved to the coastal city of Point Noir. In January, presidential guard soldiers arrived in the Pool region
Rights groups say they started stealing motorbikes. An old conflict with an armed group there called the Ninjas then reignited
In this video, some of its fighters tell the commander of the presidential guard they'll
fight to the death. The ninjas last fought the government following a disputed election in 2017
The Electoral Commission has promised a free and fair poll next month
President Sasu Nguesso's critics say the election will be rigged and the government's trying to intimidate the entire population
It's instilling fear just a month before the presidential election. You want to protest? No
So, also, it's a way for the president to have his personal elite guard deployed in the country.
In this video, soldiers say they killed this man on the roadside because he belonged to
the armed group. Republic of Congo's government says it's making the country safer
The elections are due on 15 March. Malcolm Webb, Al Jazeera