Kongulu Mobutu, a captain in the Division spéciale présidentielle (DSP), was in command of an extremist section within this organization (Africa international Oct. 1998, 32; DPA 18 June 1997). Nicknamed "Saddam Hussein," he was also assistant to General Bolozi, his uncle and head of the military intelligence-gathering organization called the Service d'action et de renseignement militaire (SARM) (Africa international Oct. 1998, 33). In the last days of the Mobutu regime, Kongulu commanded his own military unit and a security outfit called "Aigle" (ibid.). Kongulu Mobutu instructed also his father's bodyguards (The Washington Post 21 Mar. 1997). He and his men were the last to leave Kinshasa before the city fell to the rebel troops of Laurent-Désiré Kabila (Africa international Oct. 1998, 33). In a statement made to AFP on 20 May 1997 in Lomé, Togo, Kongulu Mobutu denied having been involved in the assassination of General Mahele Lyoko. General Mahele is reported to have encouraged Zairean soldiers to surrender to Kabila's rebel troops as they were advancing towards Kinshasa (ibid.).

According to a 26 September 1998 Los Angeles Times article, Kongulu Mobutu "spent most of his time overseeing a dozen businesses that ranged from importing to river shipping." In May 1995, he registered a trading company in Switzerland whose main purpose was to

channel funds from sale of Zaire's copper, cobalt, gold and diamond resources into the family's bank deposits. Letters signed by Mobutu Kongolo requested that clients make payments for precious metals and minerals to a numbered Swiss account. (Las Vegas Review-Journal 27 May 1997).

According to a 21 March 1997 article in The Washington Post, Kongulu Mobutu also protected a smuggling operation called "Air Excellence" whose planes were loaded at night at N'Djili by Zairean soldiers. The article quotes the chairman of the Zairean Association for Human Rights (AZAHDO) as saying that he had heard from several sources that Kongulu Mobutu received bribes from Lebanese smugglers "who use his name to get goods in and out of Zaire." A 13 May 1997 article published in the Johannesburg daily The Star substantiates this information by stating that president Mobutu, his son Kongolo as well as close aides permitted Lebanese, Israeli, Belgian and South African nationals to "smuggle out 80% of the country's diamond wealth ... provided they got a share of the loot."

Kongolo died on 24 September 1998 in a hospital in Monaco "after a long illness" (Los Angeles Times 26 Sept. 1998).

Reports on human rights violations committed by Kongulu Mobutu 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 additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Africa International [Paris]. October 1998. No. 318. "Congo Démocratique (ex-Zaïre) : on l'appellait 'Saddam Hussein'."

Agence France Presse (AFP). 20 May 1998. "Zaire: Mobutu's Son Denies Killing Former Zairean Defense Minister." (FBIS-AFR-97-098 20 May 1997/WNC)

Los Angeles Times. 26 September 1998. "Kongulu Mobutu: Son of Late Zairean Dictator." (NEXIS)

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 18 June 1997. "One Month a Refugee, Mobutu Has Yet to be Given Asylum." (NEXIS)

Las Vegas Review-Journal. 27 May 1997. Final Edition. William Drozdiak. "Mobutu's Swiss Money Trail Proves Elusive." (NEXIS)

The Star [Johannesburg, in English]. 13 May 1997. June Bearzi. "South Africa: Wild West' Traffickers said Smuggle 80% of Zaire Diamonds." (FBIS-AFR-97-133 13 May 1997/WNC)

The Washington Post. 21 March 1997. Final Edition. James Rupert. "Zaire Reportedly Selling Arms to Angolan Ex-Rebels." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International On-line.

Electronic sources : IRB databases, Internet, REFWORLD.

Le Soir [Brussels]. Searches in archives (Internet).