Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Whether foreign troops from Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda were guarding the Kokolo military camps in July and August 1998 and whether there are reports of any escape of prisoners in August 1998
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | RDC32128.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Whether foreign troops from Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda were guarding the Kokolo military camps in July and August 1998 and whether there are reports of any escape of prisoners in August 1998, 1 June 1999, RDC32128.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abbe78.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. |
Sources state that President Kabila decided on 27 July 1998 to end the Rwandan military presence in Democratic Republic of Congo (Info-Congo/Kinshasa 31 Aug. 1998, 2; AFP 4 Aug. 1998; Jeune Afrique 4- 10 Aug. 1998, 14). Citing President Kabila, Jeune Afrique added that there was no Ugandan military presence in DRC (4-10 Aug. 1998, 14).
However, multiple reports indicate that some hundred Tutsis of both Rwandan and Congolese origins were detained by Congolese authorities in Kokolo military camps of Kinshasa in August 1998 (AFP 12 Aug. 1998; 13 Aug. 1998; 4 Aug. 1998; Le Monde 26 Aug. 1998; HTW 18 Aug. 1998).
A December 1998 Research Directorate document entitled Democratic Republic of Congo: The August 1998 Rebellion and Affected Groups, available in Regional Documentation Centres may be of interest.
Any reference to Burundian military presence in DRC nor to any escape of prisoners in August 1998 could be found among published and oral sources consulted by 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 additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 13 August 1998. "Des diplômates "inquiets" de la situation des Banyamulenge à Kinshasa." (NEXIS)
_____. 12 August 1998. "Des congolais et des Rwandais incarcerés dans un camps militaire de Kinshasa." (NEXIS)
_____. 4 August 1998. "Les relations entre la RDC et le Rwanda dépuis l'arrivée au pouvoir de Kabila (chronologie). (NEXIS).
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1998. 1999. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Human Rights Watch (HRW). 18 August 1998. "Human Rights Watch Alarmed for Safety of Detained Tutsis in DRC." [Internet]
Info-Congo/Kinshasa [Montréal]. 31 August 1998. "Chronologie."
Jeune Afrique [Paris]. 4- 10 August 1998. No 1960. "RD Congo. Kinshasa remercie les Rwandais."
Le Monde [Paris]. 26 August 1998. Frédéric Chambon. "Les Tutsis de Kinshasa ont fuis la chasse au facies et les persécutions; il y'avait 400 Tutsis au camps militaire Kokolo. On ne sait pas comnbien il en reste." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential [London]. 1998-Mai 1999.
Africa Research Bulletin [London]. 1998- January 1999.
Amnesty International Online Website.
L'Autre Afrique [Paris]. June 1998-June 1999.
Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) Website.
Information packages. DRC. 1998.
Jeune Afrique [Paris]. 1998-June 1999.
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1998-1999.
La lettre hebdomadaire de la FIDH [Paris]. 1998.
Resource Centre Country file. DRC. 1998 to present.
West Africa [London]. 1998.
Electronic sources: Research Directorate databases, Internet searches, LEXIS/NEXIS, World News Connection (WNC).
