No information on the roles, responsibilities and reporting relationships of the Agence nationale de renseignements (ANR) of the Département de la sûreté extérieure, or the Cabinet du conseiller spécial du président de la république, nor any information on the involvement of the Cabinet du conseiller spécial du président de la république in human rights violations and the organizational structure of these organisations, could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, according to the Association africaine de défense des droits de l'homme (ASADHO) annual report for 1998 for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), there are no known legal limits to the activities of the Agence nationale de renseignements (ANR), the Détection militaire des activités 'anti-patrie', (DEMIAP), the Direction des enquêtes et de sécurité nationale (DESN) or of any other security services. Agents of these services have therefore extensive powers to arrest, detain and to investigate that are not curtailed by any legislation or by any judicial authority. Furthermore, agents of these organisations are not subject to any judicial control in ordering arrests and no judicial authority dares to raise any protest arbitrary arrests by fear of reprisals.

For further information on the activities of the ANR and other security services in the DRC, please refer to the ASADHO annual report for 1998 which is available in French on the Congoline Website at www.congoline.com/Asadho.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Association africaine de défense des droits de l'homme (ASADHO), Democratic Republic of Congo. 1999. Rapport 1998. [Internet] www.congoline.com/Asadho/ [Accessed : 7 Apr. 1999]

Association africaine de défense des droits de l'homme (ASADHO), Democratic Republic of Congo. 1999. Rapport 1998. [Internet] www.congoline.com/Asadho/ [Accessed : 7 Apr. 1999]

Association africaine de défense des droits de l'homme (ASADHO). Rapport 1997.

Electronic sources: IRB databases, Internet, LEXIS/NEXIS, WNC.

Two oral sources could not provide the information required within the prescribed

research deadlines.

Unsuccessful attempts to contact one oral source.