During two telephone interviews conducted on 1 and 2 March 2004 respectively, a Belgian journalist specializing in the Great Lake's region of Africa and the president of the Kinshasa-based African Association for the Defence of Human Rights (ASADHO), stated that they are not aware of any particular treatment of the members of the Ngbandi ethnic group by Congolese authorities. They explained that the transition institutions (government, parliament, senate, army and others) currently in place in the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC), comprise individuals from various ethnic groups, including the members of the Ngbandi ethnic group.

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), Kinshasa. 2 March 2004. Telephone interview with the president.

Le Soir [Brussels]. 1 March 2004. Telephone interview with a journalist specializing in the Great Lake's region of Africa.

Africa Confidential

Africa Research Bulletin

Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent

Resource Centre country file. RDC.

Websites, including: Africatime, AllAfrica, Amnesty International, Country Reports 2003, Dialog, Digitalcongo.net, European Country of Origin Information Network, FIDH, HRW, Minorities at Risk Project, MISNA, ReliefWeb.