A professor at the African Studies Centre in Leiden, The Netherlands, stated in a 14 September 1998 letter sent by regular mail to the Research Directorate that the CNRT was still politically active outside of Chad in November 1997 under the leadership of Hissein Koti Yacoub and that he did not have any information on the CNRT's current military activities. The professor also stated that the former leader of the CNRT, Abbas Koty, was killed in N'Jamena by the Chadian security forces in 1993, shortly after having signed a peace treaty with the Chadian government.

A representative of a French organization called Tchad-Solidarités-France who was referred to the Research Directorate by the above-mentioned professor, stated during a 22 September 1998 telephone interview that the Conseil national de redressement (CNRT) is one of the numerous splinter guerilla groups active in Chad. The CNRT operates in Eastern Chad and some of its members are based in Sudan. However, its operations remain very limited.

The representative also stated that Tchad is not a state-of-law and captured CNRT members, especially when they are caught with arms and ammunition, are often dealt with expeditiously by the Chadian security forces.

Additional information on the CNRT could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

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 sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

African Studies Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands. 14 September 1998. Telephone interview with a professor who specializes on Tchad.

Tchad-Solidarités-France, Bully-les-Mines, France. 22 September 1998. Telephone interview with representative.

Africa Confidential [London]. 1997-1998

Africa Research Bulletin. 1997-1998.

Amnesty International On-line [Internet]. 1997-1998.

Electronic sources: LEXIS/NEXIS, WNC, Internet.

La Lettre du Continent [Paris]. 1997-1998.

La Lettre de la FIDH [Paris]. 1997-1998.

Four oral sources contacted did not provide the requested information.