Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville): Current situation and treatment of members of the Lari ethnic group by the government in power (2002)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Direction des recherches, Commission de l'immigration et du statut de réfugié, Canada |
| Publication Date | 13 May 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | COG39054.F |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville): Current situation and treatment of members of the Lari ethnic group by the government in power (2002), 13 May 2002, COG39054.F, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4d731c.html [accessed 8 June 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. |
No recent information on the specific situation of members of the Lari ethnic group, including their treatment by the government currently in power, could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
However, in a 21 February 2002 article, La Lettre du Continent noted that out of a concern to [translation] "manage' populations in the south of the country which are against him," Congolese President Sassou Nguesso has neglected [translation] "somewhat the Nibolek [and] has started focussing especially on the Pool, where Brazzaville is located." The Pool region is [translation] "inhabited primarily by the Lari" (Mondes rebelles 2001, 858). Further,
According to sources, Congolese government forces have been confronting members of the Ninja militia who are loyal to a certain Ntumi since the end of March 2002 in the Pool region (Le Nouvel Afrique-Asie May 2002, 32; AFP 4 May 2002; L'Autre Afrique 24 Apr.-7 May 2002, 24; FIDH 10 Apr. 2002). These confrontations have led to the displacement of thousands of people fleeing the combat zones (ibid.; Le Nouvel Afrique-Asie May 2002, 32; AFP 4 May 2002; IRIN 23 Apr. 2002) and have [translation] "reportedly caused deaths" (FIDH 10 Apr. 2002).
Citing the United Nations humanitarian affairs co-ordinator in the region, a source noted that "[t]he entire Pool region of the Republic of Congo (ROC) remains inaccessible, even for humanitarian missions" (IRIN 23 Apr. 2002). Cited by AFP, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported the following:
[Translation]
"We are concerned about the situation of the civilian populations living in the Pool, who do not benefit from any aid because the security conditions do not allow us to go there," explained Carmen Burger, the ICRC delegate to the Congo, during an interview with some journalists.
"We do not know what is happening in the Pool. Given the state of poverty of the inhabitants, the humanitarian situation may well get worse," stressed Ms. Burger (AFP 4 May 2002).
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.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 4 May 2002. "Le CICR préoccupé par la situation des civils dans la région du Pool." L'Autre Afrique [Paris]. 24 April-7 May 2002. No. 19. "Congo : Ntumi, la petite bête noire qui (re)monte."
Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH) and Observatoire congolais des droits de l'homme. 10 April 2002. "Combats au Congo Brazzaville." Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN). 23 April 2002. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. "Congo: Fighting Continues, Entire Pool Region Inaccessible." La Lettre du Continent [Paris]. 21 February 2002. "Sassou II à la conquête du Sud." (NEXIS)
Mondes rebelles : guérillas, milices, groupes terroristes. 2001. Arnaud de la Grange. Paris: Éditions Michalon.
Le Nouvel Afrique-Asie [Paris]. May 2002. No. 152. Jesse Anansi. "Congo-Brazzaville : séquelles de la guerre."
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential 2001-March 2002.
Africa Research Bulletin 2001-February 2002.
L'Autre Afrique January-May 2002.
IRB Databases.
Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent 2001-May 2002.
Le Nouvel Afrique-Asie January-May 2002.
LEXIS/NEXIS.
Resource Centre country file. Congo. 2001-May 2002.
Internet sites including:
Africatime.
Allafrica.
Amnesty International.
BBC Africa.
FIDH.
HRW.
Minorities at Risk Project.
MISNA.
Relief Web.
