Democratic Republic of Congo: Position of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) with regard to Rwandans and Congolese Tutsis of Rwandan origin (Banyamulenge and others); relations between the UDPS and these groups; representation of these groups in the UDPS (1996 - present)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa |
| Publication Date | 30 June 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | RDC32200.FE |
| Reference | 1 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo: Position of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) with regard to Rwandans and Congolese Tutsis of Rwandan origin (Banyamulenge and others); relations between the UDPS and these groups; representation of these groups in the UDPS (1996 - present), 30 June 1999, RDC32200.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/45f1479516.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Specific information on the position of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social, UDPS) with regard to Congolese Tutsis of Rwandan origin and on the relations between the UDPS and the latter could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. Attempts to reach UDPS party officials were also unsuccessful.
However, with respect to foreigners in general, a news release published in Kinshasa by the UDPS secretary-general on 5 August 1998-two days after the ongoing war began in the RDC-stated that [translation] "the UDPS asks that our people not tarnish its legendary image of hospitality and that they avoid acts of hatred and blind vengeance against peaceful foreigners" (5 Aug. 1998).
The following information was provided during a 25 June 1999 telephone interview with a journalist from the Brussels daily Le Soir who has published several works on the African Great Lakes Region.
To her knowledge, apart from the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo/Zaïre (Alliance des forces démocratiques pour la libération du Congo/Zaïre, AFDL), which existed before the war in the RDC started on 2 August 1998, no recognized political party in the RDC has members who are Congolese Tutsis of Rwandan origin.
According to the journalist, the UDPS president, referring to the Banyamulenge and Congolese Tutsis who had contributed significantly to the AFDL's victory and who essentially made up President Kabila's security force, declared the following when Kinshasa was taken by AFDL forces in May 1997: [translation] "I welcome my brother Kabila but I regret that he is surrounded by strangers."
On 16 and 17 June 1999 respectively, professor Kalele, the UDPS national secretary responsible for organization and implementation, and Jean-François Kabanda, the executive secretary of the UDPS youth faction (JUDPS), were released; a news release published at that time by the UDPS office in Brussels stated that they had been arrested on 24 October 1997 for having, among other things, [translation] "spoken out, through documents, conferences and the organization of demonstrations, against the dictatorship and the presence of foreign civilians and soldiers-particularly Rwandans and Ugandans-in the federal public service" (17 June 1999). According to Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 1998, the two UDPS activists "were detained in October 1997 for allegedly distributing a document calling on citizens to overthrow the 'Tutsi invaders'" (1999, 87).
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 additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Bureau de représentation de l'Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social (UDPS) in Europe [Brussels]. 17 June 1999. "Communiqué de presse. Libération du professeur Kalele et de M. Kabanda." [Internet]< http://www.udps.org/textes-Europe/belux00071-210699.htm > [Accessed 28 June 1999]
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1998. 1999. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Secrétariat général de l'Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social (UDPS) [Kinshasa]. 5 August 1998. "Communiqué de presse : rébellion des Banyamulenge : l'UDPS prends position."
Le Soir [Brussels ]. 25 June 1999. Telephone interview with a journalist who is a specialist in matters related to the African Great Lakes Region.
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidentiel [London]. 1997 – May 1999
Africa Research Bulletin [London]. 1997 – January 1999
L'Autre Afrique [Paris]. June 1998 – June 1999
Info-Congo [Montreal]. 1997 – May 1999
Jeune Afrique [Paris]. 1997 – June 1999
Electronic sources: Research Directorate databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, World News Connection (WNC)
Internet sites, including: Amnesty International, HRW, Congonline, UDPS, Reliefweb, Congo 2000 and others
