According to an Agence France-Presse (AFP) article on the funeral of Lucienne Patassé, who died on 29 July 2000, the first wife (Africa Confidential 6 Mar. 1998, 7) of the former president of the Central African Republic had seven children, four girls and three boys, with Ange-Félix Patassé, from whom she had been separated for many years (10 Aug. 2000). The article, however, made no mention of the children's names (AFP 10 Aug. 2000). Another source, likewise without specifying names, reported that Lucienne Patassé's children and grandchildren, who were living in Canada and France at the time of her death, were expected to attend the funeral (Sangonet 30 July 2000).

A Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent article on the overthrow of former Central African president Ange-Félix Patassé, entitled "La Chute de l'Ange," recounts that Patassé's second wife, Angèle (Sangonet 30 July 2000), a Togolese (Africa Confidential 6 Mar. 1998, 7), and [translation] "two of his sons" were part of the presidential delegation invited to Niamey, Niger, two days before the coup d'état (Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent 23-29 Mar. 2003, 19-20; ibid., 22). The article also related that [translation] "Salomon and Providence," the couple's two "young children," remained in Bangui, Central African Republic, during the upheaval (ibid., 21).

None of the names of former president Patassé's other children could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, nor could information on whether his children are specifically targeted by the current government authorities.

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 additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Africa Confidential [London]. 6 March 1998. Vol. 39, No. 5. "Central African Republic: Patassé's Problems."