No information on the status of the Mouvement populaire de la révolution (MPR), including the treatment of members and ex-members by the ruling Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (ADFL) and by the opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, some reports refer to a 31 January 1999 decree by president Kabila authorizing with some restrictions, opposition political parties activities, which had been banned since the ADFL victory in May 1997 (AFP 31 Jan. 1999; AP Feb. 1999; Le Soir 1 Feb. 1999).

For information on the treatment of those associated with the former ruling MPR régime, see RDC29428.F of 20 May 1998 and RDC28505.E of 20 January 1998 and F of 20 January 1998.

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.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 31 January 1999. "Les activités politiques autorisées en RD Congo." (NEXIS)

Associated Press (AP). 1 February 1999. Kamanga Mutond. "Kabila Lifts Party Ban and Issues New Political Restrictions." (NEXIS)

Le Soir [Brussels]. 1 February 1999. Collette Braeckman. "Les activités politiques rétablies au Congo."

Africa Confidential [London]. 1997-February 1999.

Africa Research Bulletin [London]. /997-December 1998.

L'autre Afrique [Paris]. 1998-January 1999.

Resource Centre country file: Democratic Republic of Congo. 1997-January 1999.

Info-Congo/Kinshasa [Montréal]. 1997-January 1998.

ASADHO Annual Report. February 1998.

Jeune Afrique [Paris]. 1997-February 1999.

Electronic Sources. Internet, LEXIS/NEXIS, World News Connection (WNC).