Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. The UDPS

Sources describe the UDPS as the most prominent opposition party in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (RFI 31 Mar. 2018; IRIN 5 Oct. 2017; Freedom House 28 Mar. 2018). According to sources, the UDPS took 41 of the National Assembly’s (Assemblée nationale) 500 seats in the last election, which was held in 2011 (Freedom House 28 Mar. 2018; The Carter Center 28 Nov. 2011, 67).

Sources report that the UDPS is part of the opposition platform Rally of Political and Social Forces for Change in the DRC (Rassemblement des forces politiques et sociales de la RDC acquises au changement [also known simply as “Rassemblement” or “Rassop”]) (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2018, 19; International Crisis Group 4 Dec. 2017, 2). According to sources, the Rassemblement was created in June 2016 (International Crisis Group 4 Dec. 2017, 2; Rassemblement 10 June 2016). For information on the Rassemblement, its political agenda and the events from 2016 to July 2017 in DRC, see Response to Information Request COD105815 of July 2017.

1.1 Structure and Leaders

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a deputy representative of the UDPS Federation of Canada (Fédération du Canada de l’UDPS, UDPS-Canada) stated that the party has [translation] “national bodies,” such as the president and secretary general, and [translation] “base bodies,” such as federations, branches and cells (UDPS-Canada 22 June 2018). He also indicated that the UDPS has base bodies within the country (federations, branches and cells), as well as outside the country (called [translation] “representations” and made up of branches) (UDPS-Canada 22 June 2018). According to the same source, UDPS headquarters are in Kinshasa, DRC (UDPS-Canada 22 June 2018).

Sources indicate that Étienne Tshisekedi, founding leader of the UDPS, passed away on 1 February 2017 (International Crisis Group 4 Dec. 2017, 6; IRIN 5 Oct. 2017). According to sources, he was also the head of the Rassemblement’s [translation] “Council of Elders” (RFI 3 Mar. 2017; Radio Okapi 23 Feb. 2017). For information on the death of Étienne Tshisekedi, see Response to Information Request COD105815 of July 2017.

The UDPS-Canada deputy representative stated that, as of June 2018, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo was president of the UDPS (UDPS-Canada 22 June 2018). Sources indicate that Félix Tshisekedi, son of Étienne Tshisekedi, was elected president of the UDPS between 30 and 31 March 2018 (International Crisis Group 4 Apr. 2018, 13; RFI 31 Mar. 2018).

Sources report that Jean-Marc Kabund [Kabund-A-Kabund] is secretary-general of the UDPS (UDPS-Canada 9 June 2018; Actualite.cd 6 June 2018; L'Avenir 8 Feb. 2018). IRIN indicated in October 2017 that Rubens Mikindo is the deputy secretarygeneral of UDPS (IRIN 5 Oct. 2017). According to Actualite.cd, a Congolese information portal, on 15 May 2018, the UDPS president appointed 7 deputy secretariesgeneral, 22 national secretaries and 63 deputy secretariesgeneral (Actualite.cd 15 May 2018).

1.2 Events of 2017-2018

Sources report that the death of UDPS leader Étienne Tshisekedi on 1 February 2017 left the party divided by infighting (International Crisis Group 4 Dec. 2017, 6-7; IRIN 5 Oct. 2017). According to International Crisis Group, the UDPS [International Crisis Group English version] “split into several factions, some of which rejected the transfer of leadership to Etienne’s son Felix” (International Crisis Group 4 Dec. 2017, 6-7).

According to sources, in April 2017, President Kabila appointed Bruno Tshibala, a former member of the UDPS who had been evicted from the party the previous month, as prime minister of the transitional government (International Crisis Group 4 Dec. 2017, 7; Germany 10 Apr. 2017). Sources indicate that this appointment was contrary to a political agreement signed on 31 December 2016 (IRIN 5 Oct. 2017; Germany 10 Apr. 2017) between the government and the opposition on sharing power (Germany 10 Apr. 2017). According to the German Federal Office for Migration and Asylum (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge), the Rassemblement was supposed to choose the prime minister and had insisted on Félix Tshisekedi for the position, which President Kabila rejected (Germany 10 Apr. 2017). According to the International Crisis Group, [International Crisis Group English version] “[b]y choosing Tshibala, Kabila avoided flagrantly appointing a supporter while clearly violating the agreement’s principles, which required that the Rassemblement itself nominate the prime minister” (International Crisis Group 4 Dec. 2017, 7). According to sources, this appointment was seen as an attempt by the government to exploit tensions within the UDPS (African Arguments 15 June 2017) or the opposition (Germany 10 Apr. 2017).

Freedom House reports that this appointment exacerbated tensions between the government and the opposition, and that in September 2017, Félix Tshisekedi refused to continue the national dialogue (Freedom House 28 Mar. 2018) IRIN also reports that, during an interview, Rubens Mikindo excluded the possibility of any further dialogue with Kabila (IRIN 5 Oct. 2017). The same source indicates that the UDPS then called for a new bout of civil disobedience (IRIN 5 Oct. 2017).

Sources indicate that elections in DRC are scheduled for December 2018 (Human Rights Watch 29 June 2018; International Crisis Group 4 Apr. 2018, i; Freedom House 28 Mar. 2018). According to International Crisis Group, the opposition is repositioning itself because of the prospect of elections: the Rassemblement is fragmenting while Félix Tshisekedi's UDPS [International Crisis Group English version] “is going its own way” with regard to other smaller opposition parties (International Crisis Group 4 Apr. 2018, 13). Sources indicate that Félix Tshisekedi was chosen by the UDPS on 31 March 2018 as a potential candidate for the presidential elections in December 2018 (International Crisis Group 4 Apr. 2018, 13; RFI 31 Mar. 2018; AFP 31 Mar. 2018). On the website of the DRC National Independent Electoral Commission (Commission électorale nationale indépendante, CENI), among the country’s 599 political parties, 4 use the UDPS appellation: UDPS/Tshibala, UDPS/Rénové, UDPS/Kibassa and UDPS/Tshisekedi (DRC 2018).

2. Treatment of Members by the Authorities and Security Forces

Sources report that the UDPS headquarters were attacked during an outbreak of violence in Kinshasa on 19 and 20 September 2016 (US 3 Mar. 2017, 26; Germany 26 Sept. 2016; UN 22 Sept. 2016). Several opposition political parties were affected (US 3 Mar. 2017, 26; UN 22 Sept. 2016), as well as some government coalition parties and some elements of the state (US 3 Mar. 2017, 26; Germany 26 Sept. 2016; UN 22 Sept. 2016). According to the US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016, violence broke out during demonstrations to protest the government’s failure to organize elections in accordance with the constitution (US 3 Mar. 2017, 25). Sources indicate that the attack on the UDPS headquarters was committed by government security forces (US 3 Mar. 2017, 26; UN 22 Sept. 2016). According to US Country Reports 2016,

[security forces] killed as many as 11 civilians in the attack on UDPS headquarters, including seven burned to death, possibly after being tortured and hacked with machetes. Eyewitnesses reported SSF [state security forces] blocked efforts to extinguish the fires and prevented civilians burned during the attack on UDPS headquarters from seeking medical attention. (US 3 Mar. 2017, 26)

Sources indicate that Bruno Tshibala, then deputy secretary-general of the UDPS, was arrested by authorities on 9 October 2016 at Kinshasa’s airport (Human Rights Watch 16 Nov. 2016; Jeune Afrique with AFP 10 Oct. 2016), when he was supposed to leave on an [translation] “'official mission for the party'” (Jeune Afrique with AFP 10 Oct. 2016). According to Human Rights Watch, he was detained and [Human Rights Watch English version] “accused of plotting to commit a massacre and acts of pillage and destruction” (Human Rights Watch 16 Nov. 2016).

According to a report of the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), human rights violations were committed during peaceful demonstrations by the opposition, including the UDPS, to protest against President Joseph Kabila’s remaining in office beyond the end of his term, which was to end on 19 December 2016 (UN Feb. 2017, para. 9). According to this report, between 20 and 22 December 2016, two UDPS members [UN English version] “were arrested in the Katuba commune by ANR [Agence nationale de renseignement] agents, who accused them of being the main organizers of the 19 and 20 December demonstrations” and who detained them and charged them with rebellion and robbery (UN Feb. 2017, para. 57). According to the same source, three UDPS militants were also arrested on 21 December 2016 in Kasumbalesa because one of them was wearing a tshirt bearing the image of the UDPS national president; they were charged with [UN English version] “rebellion and public order offense,” and were still in detention and awaiting trial in February 2017 (UN Feb. 2017, para. 58). Information on their trial could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to Human Rights Watch, there were clashes on 1 February 2017 between the crowds that had gathered outside the home of Étienne Tshisekedi and the UDPS headquarters, following Tshisekedi's death in Brussels (Human Rights Watch 2 Feb. 2017). The same source states that the crowds threw rocks and shouted slurs against President Kabila and that the police responded with tear gas (Human Rights Watch 2 Feb. 2017). The UN Secretary General states that disagreements between the government and the UDPS about plans to repatriate and bury the remains of Étienne Tshisekedi prompted tense standoffs between security services and UDPS supporters at the headquarters of the party in April 2017 (UN 30 June 2017, para. 6).

According to US Country Reports 2017, in June 2017, the UDPS Youth League President, David Mukeba, was arrested in Kisangani for criticizing the voter registration process, and the ANR held him incommunicado until 31 August 2017, when he was released (US 20 Apr. 2018, 9).

According to sources, the government arrested UDPS members in October 2017, prior to Félix Tshisekedi’s visit to Lubumbashi (Freedom House 28 Mar. 2018; RFI 23 Oct. 2017). According to US Country Reports 2017, “the SSF stormed the UDPS party office in Lubumbashi and reportedly arrested 32 party members for planning to hold an unauthorized public meeting,” and more people were arrested and teargassed while trying to welcome Mr. Tshisekedi at the airport (US 20 Apr. 2018, 25-26).

Sources indicate that the passport of Jean-Marc Kabund was confiscated at the Kinshasa airport in November 2017, which prevented him from leaving the country (US 20 Apr. 2018, 28; Mediacongo.net 23 Nov. 2017).

However, sources indicate that a UDPS rally was authorized in Kinshasa on 24 April 2018 (Jeune Afrique 25 Apr. 2018; AFP 25 Apr. 2018). According to sources, it was the first authorized party rally since September 2016 (Jeune Afrique 25 Apr. 2018; AFP 25 Apr. 2018). Amnesty International reports that [Amnesty International English version] “the rally took place without incident” (Amnesty International 18 May 2018, footnote 13). According to AFP, the United Nations saluted the decision of the Congolese authorities to authorize the meeting (AFP 25 Apr. 2018). However, sources indicate that authorities banned another UDPS rally, which was to take place on 6 May 2018 in Uvira, South Kivu (Amnesty International 18 May 2018, footnote 13; RFI 7 May 2018). According to Radio France internationale (RFI), the authorities gave security reasons as grounds to ban the rally (RFI 7 May 2018). However, sources report that the party still held its meeting (RFI 7 May 2018; Forum des As 9 May 2018).

For information on the treatment of failed UDPS refugee claimants and asylum seekers returning to the DRC, see Response to Information Request COD105818 of July 2017.

3. Documents Issued to UDPS members

In correspondence dated 11 August 2017, the UDPS indicated that a new biometric party card was to be officially launched on 12 August 2017 (UDPS Canada 11 Aug. 2017). News portal Mediacongo.net reports that the UDPS officially launched the sale of biometric cards on 18 September 2017, stating that [translation] “the UDPS had already launched this biometric card, several months ago … but that it is now officially selling them” (Mediacongo.net 19 Sept. 2017). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the representative and federal president of UDPS-Canada noted that the biometric card will gradually replace the paper card issued in 2015 and that the paper card remains valid until members have received the new biometric card (UDPS-Canada 18 July 2018).

According to Mediacongo.net, the new biometric card costs 6,000 Congolese francs (CDF) [approximately C$5], and the member must pay a supplementary fee of 1,000 CDF for [translation] “the form to complete” and provide two passport photos (Mediacongo.net 19 Sept. 2017). An article in La Tempête des tropiques, a Congolese newspaper, adds that the card costs [translation] “25 [e]uros for Congolese individuals living in Europe, and US$35 for those in the United States” (La Tempête des tropiques 14 Aug. 2017). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

A copy of the front and back of a UDPS member card is attached to this Response (Attachment 1).

According to the deputy representative of UDPS-Canada, the cards are issued to the base bodies by the party’s general secretariat, and the biometric card files are registered at the cell and branch levels (UDPS-Canada 22 June 2018). The same source described the process as follows:

[translation]

1. To obtain a card, you must first register as a member at the base level of the party (cell or branch) and then meet the statutory requirements. The procedure is the same from inside and outside the country;
2. Once registration is completed in accordance with the statutes, the membership form is sent to the general secretariat for the card to be issued (UDPS-Canada 22 June 2018).

A sample membership form is attached to this Response (Attachment 2).

The representative and president of UDPS-Canada noted the following:

[translation]

[A]ny UDPS member may request and receive from his or her local branch a membership certificate, a document by which the local branch of the holder recognizes that the individual is a regular member of the UDPS. Initiated by the branch, the membership certificate will be signed by the representative or deputy representative. (UDPS-Canada 18 July 2018)

A sample membership certificate is attached to this Response (Attachment 3).

In subsequent correspondence with the Research Directorate, the representative and president stated that the certificate is further proof that the member is known locally and that, together or separately, the membership card and certificate attest to membership of UDPS-Canada (UDPS-Canada 20 July 2018).

The deputy representative indicated that, in Canada, in addition to the card or membership file, each member is supposed to have the statutory instruments of the party (UDPS-Canada 22 June 2018).

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 sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Actualite.cd. 6 June 2018. Stanys Bujakera Tshiamala. “RDC : Après les partisans de Katumbi, l’UDPS à son tour pose des conditions pour participer aux élections.” [Accessed 20 June 2018]

Actualite.cd. 15 May 2018. Stanys Bujakera Tshiamala. “RDC : mise en place du directoire de l’UDPS avec un nouveau porte-parole.” [Accessed 20 June 2018]

African Arguments. 15 June 2017. Kris Berwouts. “Trench War : The Factions That Make Up DR Congo’s Fragmented Landscape.” [Accessed 5 July 2018]

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 25 April 2018. “Manifestations de l’opposition en RDC : l’ONU optimiste mais prudente.” [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 31 March 2018. “Présidentielle de décembre : Félix Tshisekedi, candidat potentiel de l’UDPS.” [Accessed 21 June 2018]

Amnesty International. 18 May 2018. “RDC. Un espace civique toujours réprimé malgré le discours officiel.” (AFR 62/8395/2018) [Accessed 20 June 2018]

L'Avenir. 8 February 2018. Bernetel Makambo. “Faisant des révélations troublantes sur F. Tshisekedi, V. Mubake, Kabun jette le pavé dans la mare.” (Factiva) [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Bertelsmann Stiftung. 2018. “Congo, DR.” Bertelsmann Stiftung's Transformation Index (BTI) 2018 Country Report. [Accessed 23 July 2018]

The Carter Center. 28 November 2011. Élections présidentielles et législatives - République démocratique du Congo : Rapport final. [Accessed 9 July 2018]

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 2018. Commission électorale nationale indépendante (CENI). “Listes des partis politiques en RDC.” [Accessed 5 July 2018]

Forum des As. 9 May 2018. “Attendu au mois de juillet prochain à Kinshasa : Antonio Guterres face à un agenda pour la RDC.” [Accessed 21 June 2018]

Freedom House. 28 March 2018. “Congo, Democratic Republic of (Kinshasa).” Freedom in the World 2018. [Accessed 13 June 2018]

Germany. 10 April 2017. Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge. “Briefing Notes.” [Accessed 5 July 2017]

Germany . 26 September 2016. Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge. “Briefing Notes.” [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Human Rights Watch. 29 June 2018. “RD Congo : La répression perdure tandis que la date limite fixée pour les élections approche.” [Accessed 5 July 2018]

Human Rights Watch. 2 February 2017. Ida Sawyer. “Congolese Mourn Death of Prominent Opposition Leader.” [Accessed 14 June 2018]

Human Rights Watch. 16 November 2016. “RD Congo : Prisonniers politiques en détention.” [Accessed 14 June 2018]

International Crisis Group. 4 April 2018. Poker électoral en RD Congo. Rapport Afrique n° 259. [Accessed 12 June 2018]

International Crisis Group. 4 December 2017. Vers une action concertée en RDC. Rapport Afrique n° 257. [Accessed 15 June 2018]

IRIN. 5 October 2017. Philip Kleinfeld. “Kabila Sits Tight as Congo Crumbles.” [Accessed 13 June 2018]

Jeune Afrique. 25 April 2018. “RDC : Félix Tshisekedi à l’offensive pour le premier meeting de l’UDPS depuis 2016.” [Accessed 14 June 2018]

Jeune Afrique with Agence France-Presse (AFP). 10 October 2016. “RDC : arrestation de Bruno Tshibala, secrétaire général adjoint de l’UDPS.” [Accessed 20 June 2018]

Mediacongo.net. 23 November 2017. “Jean Marc Kabund empêché de voyager, mercredi, à l’aéroport de N’djili.” [Accessed 20 June 2018]

Mediacongo.net. 19 September 2017. “L’UDPS lance la vente des cartes biométriques à ses membres.” [Accessed 20 June 2018]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 7 May 2018. “RDC : Malgré l’interdiction, l’UDPS tient son meeting à Uvira.” [Accessed 14 June 2018]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 31 March 2018. “RDC : Félix Tshisekedi élu à la tête de l’UDPS, en marche pour la présidentielle.” [Accessed 14 June 2018]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 23 October 2017. “RDC : avant l’arrivée de Tshisekedi, des opposants arrêtés à Lubumbashi.” [Accessed 20 June 2018]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 3 March 2017. “RDC : le Rassemblement de l’opposition choisit ses leaders.” [Accessed 20 June 2018]

Radio Okapi. 23 February 2017. “Le Rassemblement de l’opposition définit le profil du successeur d’Étienne Tshisekedi.” [Accessed 20 June 2018]

Rassemblement des forces politiques et sociales de la RDC acquises au changement (Rassemblement). 10 June 2016. “Acte d’engagement des forces politiques et sociales, Genval.” [Accessed 21 June 2018]

La Tempête des tropiques. 14 August 2017. “Pour affronter les futures élections : l’UDPS lance sa carte biométrique.” [Accessed 20 June 2018]

Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social - Fédération du Canada (UDPS-Canada). 20 July 2018. Correspondence from a representative and federal president to the Research Directorate.

Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social - Fédération du Canada (UDPS-Canada). 18 July 2018. Correspondence from a representative and federal president to the Research Directorate.

Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social - Fédération du Canada (UDPS-Canada). 22 June 2018. Correspondence from a deputy representative to the Research Directorate.

Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social - Fédération du Canada (UDPS-Canada). 9 June 2018. “Meeting du secrétaire général Jean-Marc Kabund à Mbuji Mayi.” [Accessed 19 June 2018]

Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social - Fédération du Canada (UDPS-Canada). 11 August 2017. Sylvain Kalombo Mfunyi. “Lancement de la carte de membre biométrique.” [Accessed 14 June 2018]

United Nations (UN). 30 June 2017. Security Council. Rapport du Secrétaire général sur la mission de l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en République démocratique du Congo. (S/2017/565) [Accessed 15 June 2018]

United Nations (UN). February 2017. United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO). Rapport sur les violations des droits de l'homme en République démocratique du Congo dans le contexte des événements du 19 décembre 2016. [Accessed 22 June 2018]

United Nations (UN). 22 September 2016. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR). “RDC : Zeid met en garde contre une détérioration de la situation et réclame des comptes pour les heurts meurtriers.” [Accessed 15 June 2018]

United States (US). 20 April 2018. Departement of State. “Democratic Republic of the Congo.” Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017. [Accessed 21 June 2018]

United States (US). 3 March 2017. Departement of State. “Democratic Republic of the Congo.” Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016. [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: UDPS – Federation of South Africa; UDPS – Federation of Belgium.

Internet sites, including: ecoi.net; Political Handbook of the World; UN – Refworld.

Attachments

1. Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social (UDPS). N.d. Front and back of a UDPS membership card. Sent to the Research Directorate by a deputy representative of UDPS-Canada, 9 July 2018.
2. Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social (UDPS). N.d. Sample UDPS membership card. Sent to the Research Directorate by a deputy representative of UDPS-Canada, 22 June 2018.
3. Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social (UDPS). N.d. Sample certificate. Sent to the Research Directorate by a representative and federal president of UDPS-Canada, 18 July 2018.