Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

Information on the existence of the Bangolo ethnic group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) or the Republic of the Congo could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

1. Background

Sources indicate that “Bangala” is the plural of “Mungala” and that the term is used to designate individuals who live in the province of Équateur (ASADHO 6 Jan. 2016; CODHO 7 Jan. 2016), a former province of the DRC (ibid.). In a telephone interview with the Research Directorate, the President of the Committee of Human Rights Observers (Comité des observateurs des droits de l'homme, CODHO) — an organization located in Kinshasa that focuses on improving access to justice and combatting impunity in relation to acts of torture — added that the inhabitants of [translation] “part of the former province, Orientale [of the DRC] [1] (part of the former district of Tshopo)” are also known by that name (ibid.). In a telephone interview with the Research Directorate, the national President of the African Association for the Defence of Human Rights (Association africaine de défense des droits de l'homme, ASADHO), an NGO founded in Kinshasa in 1991 (Alternatives n.d.), stated that the Bangala do not constitute an ethnic group and that they consist of [translation] “members from several tribes” (ASADHO 6 Jan. 2016). The Presidents of ASADHO and CODHO both indicated that the Bangala people speak Lingala (ibid.; CODHO 7 Jan. 2016). The President of CODHO noted that [translation] “strictly speaking, [the Bangala]—basically the Gbandi …, Ngbaka … and Libinza … people — are traditionally speakers of Lingala” (ibid.).

Sources indicate that Mobutu Sese Seko, former president of the DRC, was originally from the former province of Équateur (ASADHO 6 Jan. 2016; CODHO 7 Jan. 2016) and, more specifically, the new province of Nord-Ubangi (ibid.). According to the President of ASADHO, during the Mobutu era, some Bangala held [translation] “high-ranking positions” in the army and security services (ASADHO 6 Jan. 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2. Treatment of the Bangala in the DRC
2.1 Treatment by Society

According to the CODHO President, [translation] “the Bangala … do not experience any particular type of treatment in Congolese society” (CODHO 7 Jan. 2016). According to the ASADHO President, the Bangala do not experience discrimination and are not [translation] “victims of violence” at the hands of society (ASADHO 6 Jan. 2016). Further information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2.2 Treatment by Authorities
2.2.1 1997-2003

The CODHO President stated that after [translation] “the Mobutu regime was overthrown” in 1997, the Bangala were “systematically targeted” by law enforcement and that “the repression … worsened” in Kinshasa after the creation of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (Mouvement de libération du Congo, MLC) and while “a large part of the former province of Équateur and part of the [former] Orientale province [was occupied] between 1999 and 2003” [2] (CODHO 7 Jan. 2016). The CODHO President stated that during that time in Kinshasa, some Bangala, including civilians, police officers and military personnel, were subjected to [translation] “arrest, arbitrary detention, torture, killings, forced disappearance and gang rape committed by military personnel” because of their presumed allegiance to the MLC (ibid.).

Corroborating information for the period of 1997-2003 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2.2.2 2006-2015

The ASADHO President provided the following information on the treatment of Bangala by DRC authorities between 2006 and 2015:

[translation]

Between 2006 and 2013, the Bangala had many difficulties because Jean-Pierre Bemba, originally from the province of Équateur, spoke out against President Kabila. They had many problems because they belonged to Jean-Pierre Bemba’s political party, or because they were from the province of Équateur. There was a witch hunt against the Bangala. Many were arrested and [a large number] of Bangala with positions in the army [were dismissed]. The situation of the Bangala improved between 2013 and 2015. Many Bangala have been appointed to positions in the government, army and police (ASADHO 6 Jan. 2016).

Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. For additional information about the MLC and Jean-Pierre Bemba, see Response to Information Request COD104040.

According to the CODHO President [translation] “Enyele insurgents,” who launched an insurgency in 2009 and are also known as members of the Allied Movement for Independent Liberation (Mouvement de libération indépendante et alliés, MLIA), “accused the [DRC] government of persecuting the Bangala from the [province of] Équateur” (CODHO 7 Jan. 2016). The same source added that [translation] “several” supporters of Honoré Ngbanda, a Mungala close to Mobutu who was [translation] “suspected [of supporting] the Enyele,” were arrested in Kinshasa and in the province of Équateur in 2011 because of their presumed allegiance to the Enyele (ibid.). According to the same source, they [translation] “benefitted from enforcement efforts” involving the 2014 amnesty law regarding “acts of insurrection, acts of war and political offences”; in addition, 14 “Enyele” were released in November 2014 under the same law (ibid.).

Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. For additional information about Honoré Ngbanda and the MLIA insurrection, see Response to Information Request COD103696.

The CODHO President of CODHO stated the following:

[translation]

the systematic persecution [of Bangala] has decreased since the 2014 amnesty law has been enforced. However, there are individuals who are still in prison even though they were arrested after that amnesty law started to be enforced. Some are being secretly detained in the prisons of the National Intelligence Agency (Agence nationale de renseignements, ANR). Others are in the five provinces that make up the former province of Équateur. These detainees are still being held because they are suspected of being members of an insurrectional movement [whose name has not been disclosed by the authorities] (ibid.).

Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. The Mungala and Bangala in the Republic of Congo

In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, the Executive Director of the Congolese Observatory of Human Rights (Observatoire congolais des droits de l’homme, OCDH), an NGO created in 1994 with headquarters in Brazzaville (IRRI n.d.), stated that [translation] “there are no ethnic groups known as Bangala and Mungala in the Republic of Congo” (OCDH 5 Jan. 2016). Further information on the Bangala and Mungala in the Republic of the Congo could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

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 for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] Sources indicate that in July 2015, the provinces of Équateur and Orientale were divided into five and four new provinces respectively (ADIAC 13 July 2015; Radio Okapi 13 July 2015).

[2] The Political Handbook of the World 2015 (PHW) indicates that the MLC was created in 1998 in the province of Équateur by Jean-Pierre Bemba, a “Mobutist” (PHW 2015, 327). Originally a “rebel group,” the MLC became part of the DRC’s transitional government in 2003 (ibid.).

References

Agence d'information d'Afrique centrale (ADIAC). 13 July 2015. Alain Diasso. “Découpage : l’Équateur et la Province orientale officialisent leur démembrement.” [Accessed 19 Jan. 2016]

Alternatives. N.d. “Association africaine de défense des droits de l'homme (RDC).” [Accessed 19 Jan. 2016]

Association africaine de défense des droits de l'homme (ASADHO). 6 January 2016. Telephone interview with the national president.

Comité des observateurs des droits de l'homme (CODHO). 7 January 2016. Written correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by the president.

International Refugee Rights Initiative (IRRI). N.d. “L’Observatoire congolais des droits de l’homme (OCDH).” [Accessed 19 Jan. 2016]

Observatoire congolais des droits de l'homme (OCDH). 5 January 2016. Written correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by the executive director.

Political Handbook of the World 2015 (PHW). 2015. “Democratic Republic of the Congo.” Edited by Tom Lansford. Washington, DC: CQ Press. [Accessed 27 Jan. 2016]

Radio Okapi. 13 July 2015. “Nouvelles provinces en RDC : la Province orientale et l’Équateur démembrés.” [Accessed 19 Jan. 2016]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Professor of anthropology, Université de Pau, France; professor of sociology, Université Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo; Research Director, Pole Institute.

Internet sites, including: AllAfrica; Amnesty International; BBC; Cairn.info; Centre Æquatoria; Commission africaine des droits de l'homme et des peuples; Congo-Site; ecoi.net; Encyclopædia Britannica; Ethno-Net Africa; Factiva; Freedom House; Héritiers de la justice; Human Rights Watch; Insight on Conflict; International Federation for Human Rights; Irenees.net; Minority Rights Group International; Radio France internationale; Syfia Grands Lacs; United Nations – High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Refworld; United States – Department of State; World Organisation Against Torture.