The Parti congolais du travail (PCT) was founded in 1969 (Political Handbook of the World: 1997 1997, 190; Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East 1993, 66; Encylopedia of the Third World 1992, 443). The former president of the Republic of Congo is president of the PCT Central Committee, and Ambroise Noumazalaye is secretary-general. The PCT monopolized Congolese political life from its founding in 1969 until the first legislative election in 1992 (Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East 1993, 67; Political Handbook of the World: 1997 1997, 190). Please refer to Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East for the PCT's performance in the1992 legislative and presidential elections (1993, 67). According to Europa 1996, in September 1994, PCT leader General Sassou-Nguesso headed the Forces démocratiques unies (FDU), an alliance of six opposition parties (1996, 914).

While the presidential election was supposed to take place on 27 July 1997, fighting broke out in June 1997 between the forces of the two favoured candidates (Africa Confidential 20 June 1997, 3). These forces were the Sassou-nguesso militias and the royal forces of Pascal Lissouba, the current president of the Republic of Congo (Ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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.

Africa Confidential [London]. 20 June 1997. Vol. 38, No. 13. "Congo-Brazzaville: And Across the River."

The Europa World Year Book 1996. 1996. 37th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York: Facts on File

Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East. 1993. Edited by Roger East and Tanya Joseph. The High, Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK.

Political Handbook of the World: 1997. 1997. Edited by Arthur S. Banks et al. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Africa Confidential [London]. 20 June 1997. Vol. 38, No. 13. "Congo-Brazzaville: And Across the River," pp. 3-4.

Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York: Facts on File, pp. 443-444.

Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East. 1993. Edited by Roger East and Tanya Joseph. The High, Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK, pp. 66-68.

Political Parties Handbook of the World: 1997. 1997. Edited by Arthur S. Banka et al. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications, p. 190.