Citizenship, nationality, conscription, religion and women's dress in Zaire
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1989 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZAR1103 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Citizenship, nationality, conscription, religion and women's dress in Zaire, 1 June 1989, ZAR1103, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ace81a.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. |
1) Persons holding a Zairian passport or a Zairian citizenship card are recognized by the government of Zaire as Zairian citizens. [ Refugee Affairs division, Department of External Affairs, Ottawa, June 1989.]
2) Article 11 of Title 1 of the Constitution of Zaire states that "Zairian citizenship is unique and exclusive. It may not be possessed concurrently with another nationality." [Blaunstien and Flanz, Constitutions of the Countries of the World: Zaire, (New York: Oceana Publications, 1986), p. 9.]
3) Article 30 of the Constitution states that military service is obligatory [ Ibid. p. 15.] but according to a 1985 UN report, in practice it is not enforced. [ A. Eide and C. Mubanga-Chipoya, CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION TO MILITARY SERVICE, (UN: New York, 1985), p. 21.] Alternative service has been available since the 1960's [ Ibid. p. 21.] and since 1966 this service has only been compulsory for teachers who have had to complete two years of "civil service" before receiving their licence. [ Kurian, G. T., World Encyclopedia of Political Systems & Parties, (New York : Facts on File Inc, 1987), p.2190.]
Zaire recognizes conscientious objector status in principle, but only certain categories [for objection] exist, [Eide et al. p. 25.] a list of those categories could not be located at this time. No information is presently available to the IRBDC Ottawa regarding the length of time a person can claim conscientious objector status, if penalties exist for non compliance with military service, the length of military service or who is eligible for conscription.
4) Documentation Réfugiés reported that more than 200,000 refugees have returned from Sudan and Angola since 1972 and with no apparent penalty for having claimed refugee status. [Documentation Réfugiés, No, 43 9/18 JULY, 1988. (Paris: Centre
Interassociatif francophone d'information et de documentation sur le droit d'asile et les réfugiés, 1988), p. 5.]
5) All land in Zaire was nationalized as of 31 December 1971. [Blaunstien, p. 3.] While transport, mining and electrical production is totally state controlled, there is private business and foreign ownership allowed in some sectors.
6) Neither the list of religions and sects banned nor the suspension of 357 churches as reported in the IRB produced 'Overview', could be found or confirmed by the IRBDC Ottawa at this time.
7) No information, on arrests or detention of women in eastern Zaire, or any where in Zaire, for non-compliance with the traditional dress code imposed in November 1988, is available to the IRBDC Ottawa at this time.
