No information indicating whether some South Kivu inhabitants and their family members who go to Burundi and Rwanda are suspected of being "Katangese subjects" working with Vice-President Raphaël Katebe Kototo and the governor of South Kivu to launch a new rebellion could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints for this Response.

However, some sources indicate that, on 7 February 2004, Xavier Chiribanya Chirimwami was suspended as governor of the province of South Kivu after the Congolese army discovered caches of weapons and munitions at his home in Bukavu [the capital of South Kivu] (MONUC 17 Feb. 2004; Societecivile.cd 10 Feb. 2004; Demain Le Congo 10 Feb. 2004). The authorities determined that the caches of weapons were threatening the security of the country (MONUC 17 Feb. 2004; Societecivile.cd 10 Feb. 2004).

In a 10 January 2004 article, the Congolese newspaper La Référence Plus indicated the possibility of a new rebellion in South Kivu. The same article associated this possible rebellion with certain Congolese army officers who stayed in Rwanda and with Xavier Chiribanya Chirimwami (La Référence Plus 10 Jan. 2004).

Concerning Raphaël Katebe Katoto, who comes from the province of Katanga, an Agence France Presse (AFP) article indicates that he joined the Congolese Rally for Democracy (Rassemblement congolais pour la démocratie, RCD) [an armed faction based in Goma] in January 2003 (18 Jan. 2003) before being appointed first vice-president of the group in June 2003 (AFP 16 June 2003; IRIN 17 June 2003). Raphaël Katebe Katoto was relieved of his duties in May 2004 and was replaced by Matadi Nenga (La Référence Plus 4 May 2004; Digitalcongo.net 3 May 2004). The former RCD-Goma vice-president is now supporting Congolese president Joseph Kabila (Le Soft 27 May 2004) and the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (Parti du peuple pour la reconstruction et la démocratie, PPRD) [which is associated with President Kabila] (Le Phare 1 June 2004).

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

Agence France Presse (AFP). 16 June 2003. "Azarias Ruberwa nouveau président du principal mouvement rebelle congolais." (Dialog)

_____. 18 January 2003. "RCD Incorporates Rich Katangese Businessman into Rebel Movement." (Dialog)

Demain Le Congo [Kinshasa]. 10 February 2004. "Voyage de Kabila : sabotage monté et... manqué à travers des crises signées Mlc et Rcd." http://www.digitalcongo.net/fullstory.php?id=34031 [Accessed 22 June 2004]

Digitalcongo.net [Kinshasa]. 3 May 2004. "RFI : Rwanda : Paul Kagame menace de pourchasser les rebelles hutu des FDLR sur le territoire congolais." http://www.digitalcongo.net/fullstory.php?id=37083 [Accessed 24 June 2004]

Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). 17 June 2003. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. "Azarias Ruberwa Named RCD-Goma Leader." (AllAfrica/Dialog)

Le Phare [Kinshasa]. 1 June 2004. Kenge Mukengeshayi. "Ruberwa dans la tourmente des volcans." http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200406011631.html [Accessed 22 June 2004]

La Référence Plus [Kinshasa]. 4 May 2004. "Incursion des troupes rwandais en RDC : RCD-Goma : vexer plutôt l'opinion congolaise que rwandaise." http://www.digitalcongo.net/fullstory.php?id=37105 [Accessed 31 May 2004]

_____. 10 January 2004. Félix Kabwizi Baluku. "Une nouvelle rébellion d'un Front de libération du Congo s'organise à partir de Bukavu avec les officiers Kunda et Bora encadrés par des experts rwandais." http://www.digitalcongo.net/fullstory.php?id=32867 [Accessed 22 June 2004]

Sociétécivile.cd. 10 February 2004. "La suspension du gouverneur de province du Sud-Kivu, du maire de la vile de Bukavu et le Redoc du Sud-Kivu." http://www.societecivile.cd/node.php?id=1374 (Google cache) [Accessed 22 June 2004]

Le Soft. 27 May 2004. No. 790. "Kabila-Katebe : le rebond du Shaba-Katanga." http://ns30777.ovh.net/~lesoft/pages/phil.php?id=497 [Accessed 31 May 2004]

United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC). 17 February 2004. Joëlle Sabella. "RDC : à Bukavu- encore une crise désamorcée." http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/0/b26a07b4b37591d185256e3d005b4fd2?OpenDocument [Accessed 22 June 2004]

Additional Sources Consulted

Publications: Africa Confidential, Africa Research Bulletin, Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent, Keesin's Record of World Events, Resource Centre country file.

Internet sites, including: Africatime, AllAfrica, Amnesty International, FIDH, Digitalcongo.net, HRW, MISNA, ReliefWeb.