Information regarding Honoré Ngbanda; information indicating whether he was involved in the rebellion in Equator Province; information on the treatment of persons involved in the rebellion (2008 - March 2011) [COD103696.FE ]

5 April 2011
 
COD103696.FE
 
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Information regarding Honoré Ngbanda; information indicating whether he was involved in the rebellion in Equator Province; information on the treatment of persons involved in the rebellion (2008 - March 2011)
Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa
 
Activities of Honoré Ngbanda
 
According to two sources consulted by the Research Directorate, Honoré Ngbanda (also spelled Nganda [Réveil-FM 14 Aug. 2008]) is president of the movement known as Alliance of Patriots for the Re-foundation of the Congo (Alliance des patriotes pour la refondation du Congo, APARECO) (APARECO n.d.a; Congo indépendant 8 Feb. 2009). APARECO defines itself as [translation] “a framework for consultation and action among Congolese political parties, associations and personalities who share the same patriotic vision” (APARECO n.d.c, 2). Honoré Ngbanda has held the position of president of APARECO since 4 June 2005 (APARECO 31 Aug. 2005). He was a special security advisor under President Mobutu Sese Seko in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (Congo indépendant 8 Feb. 2009). He was appointed to this position in 1992; before that, he was administrator general of the national documentation agency (Agence nationale de documentation, AND), political advisor to the head of state and Minister of National Defence (ministre de la Défense nationale) (APARECO 31 Aug. 2005).
 
In an interview, a correspondent from the Brussels-based online news site Congo indépendant asked Honoré Ngbanda about his role in the rebellion in Equator Province in the DRC: Honoré Ngbanda maintained that he declined the rebels’ invitation to become the military leader of their movement (Congo indépendant 31 Aug. 2010). He said, however, that he contributed to the rebel cause by enabling them [translation] “to explain the reasons for their uprising” and “to relay their appeal to all young Congolese patriots” (ibid.). Thus, from November 2009 to January 2010, communiqués from the spokesperson for the Resistance Patriots of Dongo (Patriotes résistants de Dongo), who became the Resistance Patriots of the Congo (Patriotes résistants congolais), were published on the APARECO Web site (ibid.). Similarly, in an interview granted to the Bendele and Lobiko radio stations on 10 April 2010, Honoré Ngbanda said that APARECO provided the insurgents with a communication infrastructure. He added that [translation] “We are working underground and cannot provide strategic information about the logistics of those who risk their lives in the field.” (APARECO n.d.b). Other information about Honoré Ngbanda’s ties to the rebellion in Equator Province could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
 
The rebellion
 
An article published on 23 November 2009 by Le Phare, a daily newspaper in Kinshasa, said that the rebels were mainly deserters from the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Forces armées de la RDC, FARDC), or from the now-defunct Armed Forces of Zaire (Forces armées zaïroises, FAZ) and demobilized troops. Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
 
Two sources indicated that the rebellion was an initiative by a group called the Independent Movement for the Liberation of Allies (Mouvement indépendant pour la libération des alliés, MILA) (L'Observateur 10 Dec. 2009) (or Mouvement de libération indépendante des alliés, MLIA) (Xinhua 5 July 2010). The Minister of National Defence of the DRC said that Ibrahim Mangbama Mambenga, President of the MLIA, is the father of rebel leader Oudjani (also spelled Ondjani [Le Palmarès 24 Aug. 2010], Odjani [RI 31 Mar. 2010] or Udjani [KongoTimes! 6 May 2010]) (quoted on Radio Okapi 3 July 2010). According to the Minister of Communication and Media (ministre de la Communication et des medias), who is also the spokesperson for the government of the DRC, Oudjani is allegedly [translation] “the military leader of the Enyele rebels, while his father is the political leader” (quoted in Le Palmarès 24 Aug. 2010). Several other sources describe Undjani as one of the rebel leaders (RFI 12 May 2010; RI 31 Mar. 2010; KongoTimes! 6 May 2010). An article published by Congo indépendant on 31 Aug. 2010 states that Ambroise Lobala issued communiqués presenting himself as the spokesperson for the Resistance Patriots of Dongo (or the Resistance Patriots of the Congo). At a press conference in Kinshasa on 16 December 2009, the civilian spokesperson for the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) said that [translation] “All we know about this rebellion is that it is called 'Resistance Patriots Enyele'. Not many details are available concerning the insurrection.” (Quoted in IPS 28 Dec. 2009)
 
An article published by the United Nations News Centre on 26 January 2010, said that scarcity of resources was the main cause of violence in recent decades in the South Ubangi District of Equator Province. According to the same article, in October 2009, there were [translation] “violent clashes” in the Dongo area, owing to tension over fishing rights (UN 26 Jan. 2010). Similarly, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2009, published by the U.S. Department of State, say that, between October and November 2009, in the South Ubangi District, a conflict between the Banzaya and Enyele clans - over issues relating to tenant farming and fishery rights - sparked [translation] “a humanitarian crisis” (US 11 Mar. 2010, sec. 6). According to an article in L'Observateur, a Congolese daily newspaper, [translation] “What started as a conflict between two communities, Enyele youth and non-residents of Dongo, based on the management of a fish pond, … is ultimately proving to be a rebellion” (10 Dec. 2009). An article published by Refugees International (RI) on 31 March 2010, an independent organization that does not receive any financial support from the government and assists displaced persons, noted the following:
 
[RI English version]
 
Tensions between the Boba and Lobala center around Dongo, an important commercial and trade port on the Oubangui River. Dongo historically belongs to the Lobala, but over the years, the Boba have increasingly begun to control the town economically and through political aspirations. While the growing marginalization of the Lobala is what ultimately led to an armed rebellion against the Boba in 2009, this larger conflict was sparked by localized tensions over access to fishing ponds between two ethnic groups, the Inyelle and the Manzaya, whose grievances date back to the 1940s.
 
According to the Minister of National Defence of the DRC, as reported by the Xinhua news agency, there was an uprising of Enyele rebels in Dongo, [translation] “including armed attacks on civilian populations, elements of the National Police and all symbols of the state” (5 July 2010). Country Reports for 2009 states that members of the Enyele clan killed about 45 police officers and, by the end of 2009, the conflict claimed about a hundred civilian lives (US 11 Mar. 2010, sec. 6). The RI article noted that, when the clashes subsided, “half of the houses” in Dongo had been burned, and 250 to 500 civilians had been killed (RI 31 Mar. 2010). According to the same article, clashes occurred in other localities, including Bobito (ibid.). In the spring of 2010, rebels attacked the city of Mbandaka (RFI 6 Apr. 2010; Le Palmarès 24 Aug. 2010; Radio Okapi 5 Apr. 2010). Rebels occupied the airport for several hours; it was later retaken by government troops (ibid.; RFI 6 Apr. 2010).
 
According to the Kinshasa daily newspaper Le Palmarès and RI, the conflict displaced about 200,000 persons (Le Palmarès 24 Aug. 2010; RI 31 Mar. 2010). An article published by the Inter Press Service (IPS) news agency on 28 December 2009 likewise noted that, according to a report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 150,000 people fled the conflict zone. According to Radio Okapi, the United Nations radio station in the DRC (Radio Okapi n.d.), 65 to 70 percent of displaced families had returned to Dongo by 2 December 2010 (Radio Okapi 2 Dec. 2010). Also according to Radio Okapi, peace was restored (ibid. 2 Mar. 2011), but the chair of the local reconciliation committee said that [translation] “Dongo continues to be torn apart by tribal hatred” (ibid. 2 Dec. 2010). No information corroborating that provided by Radio Okapi could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
 
Treatment of persons involved in the rebellion
 
Because of the conflict that erupted in Equator Province in 2009, the government of the DRC deployed FARDC troops, supported by MONUC (UN 26 Jan. 2010; KongoTimes! 6 Apr. 2010). The rapid reaction police (Police d'intervention rapide, PIR) were also deployed there (Le Phare 23 Nov. 2009; IPS 28 Dec. 2009). According to Radio Okapi, the FARDC began to withdraw from the Dongo region in October 2010 (Radio Okapi 2 Oct. 2010). The FARDC arrested Ibrahim Mangbama Mambenga in early July 2010 (ibid.; Xinhua 5 July 2010). The Xinhua news agency reported that the rebel leader was wounded and that 12 of his supporters were killed during the operation that led to his arrest (ibid.). The rebel leader was to be court-martialled (ibid.; Radio Okapi 3 July 2010). Information about the trial could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
 
Sources noted that the other rebel leader, Ondjani Mangbama, was arrested by security forces in Congo-Brazzaville/the Republic of the Congo (RFI 12 May 2010; Le Palmarès 24 Aug. 2010; KongoTimes! 6 May 2010). However, KongoTimes! and Radio France internationale (RFI) noted that an official source had not confirmed this arrest (ibid.; RFI 12 May 2010). According to the article published by Le Palmarès, Ondjani was arrested with about forty of his close collaborators (24 Aug. 2010). An article published by RFI on 12 May 2010 further noted that Congo-Kinshasa/the Republic of the Congo and Congo-Brazzaville/the Democratic Republic of the Congo do not have an extradition agreement. Information about what became of the rebel leader could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
 
According to Radio Okapi, in May 2010, 13 MLIA members, who took part in the Mbandaka clashes of April 2010, were court-martialled and sentenced to death while others were sentenced to 9 to 20 years in prison, or 5 to 10 years in prison without parole (Radio Okapi 25 May 2010). An unstated number of people were acquitted (ibid.). In another article, Radio Okapi noted that 25 MLIA members were tried for allegedly taking part in the Mbandka attack (ibid. 23 July 2010). On 22 July 2010, the court-martial sentenced six people to death, sentenced another five people to 10 years in prison without parole, and acquitted 14 (ibid.). The defence attorneys said that they would [translation] “appeal to obtain the release of six other people sentenced” (ibid.). The articles do not specify whether these people included MLIA leaders. Information corroborating the information provided by Radio Okapi or information about the status of the appeal 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 for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
 
References
 
Alliance des patriotes pour la refondation du Congo (APARECO). 31 August 2005. “Qui est Honoré Ngbanda-Nzamba Ko Atumba?” [Accessed 28 Mar. 2011]
 
_____. N.d.a “Le fil info.” [Accessed 10 Feb. 2011]
 
_____. N.d.b. “Interview de Mr. Honoré Ngbanda accordée aux radios 'Bendele' et 'Lobiko'” [Accessed 28 Mar. 2011]
 
_____. N.d.c. “Qui sommes-nous?” [Accessed 31 Mar. 2011]
 
Congo indépendant [Brussels]. 31 August 2010. Baudouin Amba Wetshi. “Questions directes à Honoré Ngbanda.” [Accessed 4 Apr. 2011]
 
_____. 8 February 2009. B. Amba Wetshi. “Questions directes à Honoré Ngbanda.” [Accessed 28 Mar. 2011]
 
Inter Press Service (IPS). 28 December 2009. Emmanuel Chaco. “Politique-RD Congo : une insurrection aux contours flous dans l'Équateur.” [Accessed 29 Mar. 2011]
 
Kongotimes!. 6 May 2010. Louis-Paul Eyenga Sana. “RDC : incertitude autour de l'arrestation d'Udjani, chef des Enyele.” [Accessed 10 Feb. 2011]
 
_____. 6 April 2010. Dorian Kisimba and Jonas Eugène Kota. “RDC : attaque de Mbandaka, les Enyele cachent une rébellion !” [Accessed 10 Feb. 2011]
 
L'Observateur [Kinshasa]. 10 December 2009. Dovin Ntelolo Diasonga. “Situation sécuritaire inquiétante à l'Équateur.” [Accessed 10 Feb. 2011]
 
Le Palmarès [Kinshasa]. 24 August 2010. “L'extradition du chef des insurgés Enyele : une procédure ni diplomatique ni politique.” (DigitalCongo.net) [Accessed 10 Feb. 2011]
 
Le Phare [Kinshasa]. 23 November 2009. “Congo-Kinshasa : sauve-qui-peut à l'Équateur.” (AllAfrica.com) [Accessed 10 Feb. 2011]
 
Radio France internationale (RFI). 12 May 2010. “Un chef rebelle de RDC serait entre les mains de la police.” [Accessed 10 Feb. 2011]
 
_____. 6 April 2010. “L'armée congolaise semble avoir repris le contrôle de Mbandaka.” [Accessed 4 Apr. 2011]
 
Radio Okapi. 2 March 2011. “Équateur : la paix est revenue à Monzaya, pas la prospérité.” [Accessed 30 Mar. 2011]
 
_____. 2 December 2010. “Une année après l'insurrection de l'Équateur, 70 % de déplacés sont retournés à Dongo.” [Accessed 30 Mar. 2011]
 
_____. 2 October 2010. “Dongo : les FARDC se désengagent, mais…” [Accessed 31 Mar. 2011]
 
_____. 23 July 2010. “Le tribunal militaire de Mbandaka condamne six insurgés à la peine capitale.” [Accessed 30 Mar. 2011]
 
_____. 3 July 2010. “Équateur : le père du chef rebelle Oudjani, arrêté puis transféré à Kinshasa.” [Accessed 30 Mar. 2011]
 
_____. 25 May 2010. “Transfèrement des condamnés MLIA de Mbandaka vers Kinshasa.” [Accessed 30 Mar. 2011]
 
_____. 5 April 2010. “Mbandaka : la situation sécuritaire toujours préoccupante.” [Accessed 30 Mar. 2011]
 
_____. N.d. “À propos.” [Accessed 30 Mar. 2011]
 
Refugees International (RI). 31 March 2010. “RD Congo : projecteurs sur la crise en Équateur.” [Accessed 23 Mar. 2011]
 
Réveil-FM. 14 August 2008. Freddy Mulongo. “10 questions au pasteur Théodore Ngoy.” [Accessed 28 Mar. 2011]
 
United Nations (UN). 26 January 2010. UN News Centre. “RDC : la situation humanitaire dans le Sud-Ubangi reste inquiétante.” [Accessed 14 Feb. 2011]
 
United States (US). 11 March 2010. Department of State. “Democratic Republic of the Congo.” Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2009. [Accessed 15 Feb. 2011]
 
Xinhua. 5 July 2010. “RDC : arrestation du chef des rebelles Enyele.” [Accessed 10 Feb. 2011]
 
Additional Sources Consulted
 
Oral sources: Attempts to contact representatives of the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Action, jeunesse et développement, the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (CDH), and Journaliste en danger (JED) were unsuccessful.
 
Internet sites, including: Afrik.com, Amnesty International (AI), Associated Press (AP), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (CDH), Congonline, Freedom House, Héritiers de la justice (Hj), Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Jeune Afrique, La Jeunesse chrétienne pour la paix et le développement (JCPD), Minority Rights Group International (MRG), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (HCR), Organisation internationale de la francophonie (OIF), PANApress (PANA), Le Potentiel [Kinshasa], Syfia Grands Lacs, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations — Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN), United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), La Voix des sans-voix (VSV).