Democratic Republic of Congo: Whether UN investigators were at Kinshasa's Intercontinental Hotel in October 1997 interrogating witnesses on massacres and mass poisoning that took place in the Bukavu region during the civil war from the beginning of October 1996 to the end of January 1997, names of the persons in charge of the investigations, reports on threats to witnesses and protection offered to them by the UN investigators, on precautions taken by UN Investigators to protect their sources and whether Investigators received reports or mass poisoning in the Bukavu region
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | RDC31207.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo: Whether UN investigators were at Kinshasa's Intercontinental Hotel in October 1997 interrogating witnesses on massacres and mass poisoning that took place in the Bukavu region during the civil war from the beginning of October 1996 to the end of January 1997, names of the persons in charge of the investigations, reports on threats to witnesses and protection offered to them by the UN investigators, on precautions taken by UN Investigators to protect their sources and whether Investigators received reports or mass poisoning in the Bukavu region, 1 February 1999, RDC31207.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab319f.html [accessed 6 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. |
A 6 October 1997 Daily Telegraph report states the UN team sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo to investigate massacres committed by the Kabila forces during their seven month offensive had been relegated to the Intercontinental Hotel since August 1997 and was "barred by the government from carrying out its mandate." The report quotes RDC government officials as saying that while four members had left for New York to brief the UN Secretary-General, "the rest of them [were] sitting by the pool of the Intercontinental hotel twiddling their thumbs, drinking beer and watching the girls go by."
A 24 November 1997 APF report states that the UN investigation into the massacres continued to be stalled by the RDC government in Kinshasa and that a journalist suspected of "spying" for the UN was arrested in the city of Kisangani. By the end of November 1997, according to an AFP 30 November 1999 report, the UN team was allowed to go to the east of the country where the Kabila-led rebellion began.
The were no reports about the interrogation of witnesses, the names of the persons in charge of the investigations, threats to witnesses, any precaution taken or mass poisoning in the sources consulted in 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 sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 30 November 1997. "Kinshasa Bans International Radio as UN Massacre Probe Readies." (NEXIS)
_____. 24 November 1997. "Senior Journalist Arrested as UN Spy in DR Congo." (NEXIS)
The Daily Telegraph [London]. 6 October 1997. "Kabila Puts Troops into Brazzaville Civil War." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Electronic sources : IRB databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, REFWORLD, Internet, United Nations: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA-Online) [Internet], WNC.
