Democratic Republic of Congo: The Popular Front Against Constitutional Review and for Credible Elections in the DRC (Front populaire contre la révision constitutionnelle et pour les élections crédibles en RDC), including its members and activities; the treatment of members of the group by the authorities (July 2014-December 2014)

1. General Information

According to Radio Okapi, the United Nations' radio station in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (Radio Okapi n.d.), the Popular Front Against Constitutional Review and for Credible Elections in the DRC (Front populaire contre la révision constitutionnelle et pour les élections crédibles en RDC) [also called the Popular Front Against Constitutional Review (Front populaire contre la révision constitutionnelle) or simply the Popular Front (Front populaire)], was created on 11 July 2014 (ibid. 12 July 2014). Sources state that the Popular Front is part of the opposition in the DRC and that it aims to prevent attempts to amend the Constitution of the DRC (ibid.; La Prospérité 19 Nov. 2014).

According to Radio Okapi,

[translation]

controversy regarding constitutional review focuses on Article 220, which prohibits, in particular, Joseph Kabila-in power since 2001-from running for a third term. The opposition refuses to allow this "locked article" of the Constitution to be touched. However, the majority [in power] are of the opinion that this provision may be amended by a referendum (Radio Okapi 5 Aug. 2014).

2. Structure of the Popular Front

According to Radio Okapi, the Popular Front is [translation] "made up of members of civil society organizations, churches and various political actors" (ibid. 12 July 2014). The group has [translation] "a plenary, a national council and national coordination" (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Sources state that the coordinator of the Popular Front is Jean-Pierre Lisanga Bonganga (La Prospérité 19 Nov. 2014; KongoTimes! 25 Oct. 2014; Radio Okapi 12 July 2014). According to Radio Okapi, upon its creation, the group included Gérard Kamanda wa Kamanda as a moderator, Oscar Lungembo as a reporter and Baudouin Idambito Bakaato as assistant national coordinator (ibid.).

Further information on the structure and members of the Popular Front could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. Activities of the Popular Front

According to Radio Okapi, the group would go out [translation] "to meet the public" to convince it of its positions (ibid.).

Radio Okapi states that, on 4 August 2014, the Popular Front submitted a memorandum to the Embassy of the United States in Kinshasa, to [translation] "draw the attention of the American President, Barack Obama, to the probable review of the Constitution of the DRC" (ibid. 5 Aug. 2014). According to the Congolese daily, La Prospérité, the Popular Front held a press briefing on 4 September 2014, to publicize the content of an open letter that it addressed to President Kabila (La Prospérité 5 Sept. 2014). The letter denounced the possibility of reviewing the Constitution and reproached the President for not organizing [translation] "a real electoral administration," an approach that could "reassure everyone on the neutrality, impartiality and independence" of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Commission électorale nationale indépendante, CENI) (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Sources state that on 13 September 2014, the Popular Front held a public assembly in the commune of Lemba [in the city of Kinshasa] (Radio Okapi 13 Sept. 2014; La Prospérité 15 Sept. 2014). According to La Prospérité, some members of political opposition parties participated in the meeting as speakers, in particular, representatives of the Movement of Congolese Democrats (Mouvement des démocrates congolais) and of the Congolese Rally of Democrats and Nationalists (Rassemblement des Congolais démocrates et nationalists) (ibid.). The daily adds that this meeting mainly dealt with constitutional review, the restructuring of CENI and the freeing of political prisoners (ibid.). According to Radio Okapi, this assembly was authorized by the provincial government of Kinshasa, and a few police officers [translation] "supervised the protestors" (13 Sept. 2014). La Prospérité states that the meeting took place [translation] "without incident" (La Prospérité 15 Sept. 2014). Jean-Pierre Lisanga Bonganga stated that other meetings of this kind were planned for all the communes of the city-province of Kinshasa (ibid.). Radio Okapi points out that [translation] "an opposition march" that was also supposed to be held on 13 September 2014 in Kinshasa did not receive authorization from the provincial minister of the interior of Kinshasa [translation] "for organizational reasons," and "that a significant presence" was deployed by the security forces to prevent it from taking place (13 Sept. 2014). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Sources state that on 22 October 2014, the Popular Front submitted a [translation] "supporting memorandum" to the National Episcopal Conference of the Congo (Conférence épiscopale nationale du Congo, CENCO), the assembly of bishops of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (CENCO n.d.) (La Prospérité 21 Oct. 2014; Kongo Times! 25 Oct. 2014). According to Kongo Times!, a DRC current affairs website, CENCO had declared that it [translation] "objected to any attempt or initiative to review the Constitution" (Kongo Times! 25 Oct. 2014). The Popular Front also congratulated the President of the Senate, as well as other political organizations that took a position against reviewing the Constitution (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

An article in La Prospérité states that, according to Jean-Pierre Lisanga Bonganga, the government withdrew four bills regarding constitutional review (La Prospérité 19 Nov. 2014). However, the presidential majority, the coalition in power, gave its support to an opposition member's bill that aimed to amend the Election Act, which, according to Jean-Pierre Lisanga Bonganga, would lead to a constitutional review (ibid.). According to La Prospérité, on behalf of the Popular Front, he invited the member in question to withdraw his bill (ibid.). Sources state that the member withdrew his bill on 12 December 2014, stating that the Office of the National Assembly had made amendments to the bill without his consent (L'Observateur 17 Dec. 2014; RFI 13 Dec. 2014; ADIAC 13 Dec. 2014). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

4. Treatment of Members of the Popular Front by the Authorities

Information on the treatment of members of the Popular Front by the authorities could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

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

Agence d'information d'Afrique centrale (ADIAC). 13 December 2014. Lucien Dianzenza. "Assemblée nationale : Delly Sesanga retire sa proposition de loi." [Accessed 17 Dec. 2014]

Conférence épiscopale nationale du Congo (CENCO). N.d. "La Conférence épiscopale nationale du Congo (CENCO)." [Accessed 15 Dec. 2014]

Kongo Times!. 25 October 2014. Rachidi Mabandu. "Révision de la Constitution : l'opposition de RDC soutient les évêques catholiques." [Accessed 24 Nov. 2014]

L'Observateur. 17 December 2014. Freddy Longangu "Parlement : l'initiative de Sesanga retirée, le bureau se replie sur les projets du gouvernement." [Accessed 17 Dec. 2014]

La Prospérité. 19 November 2014. Kevin Inana. "Amendement de la loi électorale : Front populaire, Lisanga invite Sesanga à retirer sa proposition!" [Accessed 24 Nov. 2014]

_____. 21 October 2014. Kevin Inana. "Soutien à l'action des évêques catholiques : le Front populaire ce mercredi à la CENCO !" [Accessed 17 Dec. 2014]

_____. 15 September 2014. Kevin Inana. "Non à la révision constitutionnelle : Front Populaire, Lisanga, Mokia, Moni Della... mobilisent à Lemba." [Accessed 10 Dec. 2014]

_____. 5 September 2014. Kevin Inana. "Front populaire : Lisanga écrit à Kabila!" [Accessed 10 Dec. 2014]

Radio Okapi. 13 September 2014. "Kinshasa : la marche de l'opposition ne s'est pas tenue." [Accessed 16 Dec. 2014]

_____. 5 August 2014. "Révision constitutionnelle en RDC : L'opposition adresse un memo à Barack Obama." [Accessed 10 Dec. 2014]

_____. 12 July 2014. "RDC : des opposants lancent le Front populaire contre la révision constitutionnelle." [Accessed 24 Nov. 2014]

_____. N.d. "À propos." [Accessed 10 Dec. 2014]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: The following organization was unable to provide information within the time constraints: Ligue pour la paix, les droits de l'homme et la justice. Attempts to contact the following organizations within the time constraints were unsuccessful: Centre des droits de l'homme et du droit humanitaire; Toges noires.

Internet sites, including: 7 sur 7; Africa Confidential; Africa Intelligence; Africa Time; Afrik.com; Afrol News; Agence congolaise de presse; Agence de presse africaine; AllAfrica; Amnesty International; L'Avenir; Cable News Network; Congo24; Congo Independent; Congonline; Congo Panorama; Congo Planet; Congo Tribune; Congo Vision; Digital Congo; Écho du Sud; ecoi.net; Factiva; Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme; Le Fouineur de la République démocratique du Congo; France - Cour nationale du droit d'asile; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch; InfoSud - Tribune des droits humains; International Crisis Group; Jeune Afrique; Media Congo; The New York Times; Observatoire de l'Afrique centrale; Panapress; Le Phare; Le Potentiel; Radio France internationale; Syfia Grands Lacs; Top Congo FM; United Kingdom - Home Office; United Nations - Refworld; United States - Department of State; The Washington Post.