According to the United States Department of State, "the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has issued a new style of passport, and has declared that, effective May 31, 2000, previous versions of both DRC and Zaire passports are no longer valid" (15 July 2002). Referring to "many previous versions of Zaire/DRC passports still in circulation," the same source of information added that the Congolese government requested that "measures should be taken immediately in order to assist them in their quest to achieve a more perfect uniformity of passport issuance" (United States 15 July 2002).

During a 9 April 2003 telephone interview, the president of the Kinshasa-based Journaliste en danger (JED), a non-governmental Congolese organization advocating freedom of the press in the RDC, stated that to his knowledge, [translation] "no ordinary Congolese citizen" has been prevented by the Congolese authorities from renewing his/her passport. On the contrary, Congolese authorities encouraged people to replace their old passports (Zairian) by the new ones (Congolese passports) (JED 9 Apr. 2003). However, because of the war, which restricted travel, many people, especially in rebel areas, have had difficulties accessing the passport offices (ibid.).

For additional information on the different kinds of Congolese passports, including their issuance, please see RDC41063.F of 10 March 2003.

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.

Journaliste en danger (JED) [Kinshasa]. 9 April 2003. Telephone interview with the president.

United States. 18 July 2002. Department of State. "Democratic Republic of Congo [Kinshasa]: Reciprocity Schedule." http://www.travel.state.gov/reciprocity/Country%20Folder/C/Congo_Kinshasa.htm [Accessed 9 Apr. 2003]

Africa Confidential 2001.

Belgium. Octobre 2002. Commissariat général aux réfugiés et aux apatrides. Service de documentation et de recherche (CEDOCA). Rapport de mission à Kinshasa (République démocratique du Congo) du 16 juin au 5 août 2002.

Info-Congo/Kinshasa 2001.

Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligeant 2001.

Keesing's Record of World Events 2001.

LEXIS/NEXIS.

Resource Centre country file. RDC

Websites, including:

Africatime.

Allafrica.

Digitalcongo.net.

European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI.net).

Observatoire de l'Afrique centrale.

Le Potentiel [Kinshasa].