Information on the situation in Kapanga including who controls the area and the status of the Banyamurenge [RDC28598.E]

During a 7 January 1998 telephone interview, a minister of the Civil Service of the Democratic Republic of Congo indicated that the entire country is under control of the Alliance of Democratic Forces for Liberation of Congo-Zaire (ADFL) forces. The ADFL forces seized all the province of Katanga (formerly Shaba) including Kapanga area in April 1997. Please refer to the attachment for a map showing the geographic location of the Kapanga area.

The representative of Développement et paix, a non-government organization in Montreal which conducts many socio-economic projects in RDC, indicated during a 8 January telephone interview that all of the RDC is in the hands of ADFL forces. The representative of Développement et paix visited many regions of RDC including Katanga province in November 1997.

Information on the status of the Banyamurenge in Kapanga area 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.

References


Développement et paix, Montréal. 8 January 1998. Telephone interview with a representative.

Ministry of the Civil Service, Kinshasa, RDC. 7 January 1998. Telephone interview with a minister.

Attachment


Map of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 1990. Washington, DC.; National Geographic Society

Additional Sources Consulted


Africa Confidential [London]. 1997 to present.

Africa Research Bulletin [London]. 1997.

Democratic Republic of Congo country file. 1997.

Jeune Afrique [Paris]. 1997 to present.

Electronic sources : LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet

Four oral sources consulted did not have any information on the status of the Banyamurenge in Kapanga area