Côte d'Ivoire: Rally of Republicans (Rassemblement des républicains, RDR), including its structure, procedure for becoming a member, and the treatment of members by the government currently in place (August 2000)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 31 August 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CIV35044.FE |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Côte d'Ivoire: Rally of Republicans (Rassemblement des républicains, RDR), including its structure, procedure for becoming a member, and the treatment of members by the government currently in place (August 2000), 31 August 2000, CIV35044.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4d713.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. |
On 1 August 2000, the BBC reported that the Ivorian military used batons and tear gas to violently break up an anti-government demonstration which had taken place in Abidjan the previous day. According to sources, the demonstrators were known to be sympathizers of Alassana Ouattara [General Secretary of the Rally of Republicans, RDR] who had been prevented, a week earlier, from going to France despite the fact that the previously imposed travel restrictions on political leaders had been lifted (BBC 1 Aug. 2000; Jeune Afrique 1-7 Aug. 2000, 17).
Sources of information published in July 2000 report, in turn, the arrest of several leaders of the Rally of Republicans (RDR) by the Ivorian state police [translation] "as part of an investigation into the mutiny of 4 and 5 July 2000" (PANA 12 July 2000; Le Monde 17 July 2000; AFP 14 July 2000). The people involved were Amadou Gon Coulibaly, Assistant Secretary of the RDR, and Aly Coulibaly, party spokesman (ibid.; PANA 12 July 2000), as well as Coulibaly Sangafoa, party representative in Korhogo, and Mamadou Coulibaly, party member (AFP 14 July 2000). They were held for two days and then released for lack of evidence (ibid.; Le Monde 17 July 2000).
In an article dated 19 May 2000, AFP reports that [translation] "Mr. Ouattara's party, the Rally of Republicans (RDR, liberal), is the only major political grouping not to be represented in the transitional government formed on Thursday, since it turned down the only portfolio -- that of Culture -- offered to it." The article further notes that [translation] "the RDR and Mr. Ouattara [its General Secretary] are in the sights of General Guei [current President of the country] who has even claimed that he has evidence against Mr. Ouattara of a national security offence" (AFP 19 May 2000).
Information sources note that the new Constitution submitted to the population in July 2000 contains a provision stipulating that only those candidates who have [translation] "never held another nationality" can run for the presidency of the Republic during the elections scheduled for September 2000 (Le Monde 17 July 2000; Newswatch 15 Aug. 2000; Libération 17 May 2000). These same sources concur in stating that this new constitution was drafted to block the candidature of the RDR's General Secretary (ibid.; Newswatch 15 Aug. 2000; Le Monde 17 July 2000). In fact, Alassana Ouattara is accused by the regime in place of having formerly held Burkinan nationality (ibid.; Newswatch 15 Aug. 2000; Libération 17 May 2000).
With regards to the RDR's background, organizational structure, internal regulations and statutes, please refer to the attached extracts obtained from the organization's Internet site. This Website states, among other things, the terms and conditions of membership in this party, the rights and obligations of members, the reasons for loss of membership status and membership dues, which are currently a minimum one-time payment of 500 CFA and which entitle the applicant to [translation] "a numbered non-transferable card issued by the General Secretary" (RDR 2000). No description of the membership card could be found among the 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 of sources additional consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Agence France Presse (AGP). 14 July 2000. "Libération des responsables du RDR." (NEXIS)
_____. 19 May 2000. Pompey Fabienne. "Le nouveau gouvernement du général Guei relègue Ouattara dans l'opposition." (NEXIS)
BBC News. 1 August 2000. "BBC Protests Journalist's Beating." Jeune Afrique [Paris]. 1-7 August 2000. No. 2064. Francis Kpatindé. "Chronique d'un départ annulé."
Libération [Paris]. 17 May 2000. Judith Rueff. "La junte ressort la préférence nationale en Côte d'Ivoire. Le candidat Ouattara pourrait être écarté des élections." (NEXIS)
Le Monde [Paris]. 17 July 2000. Pompey Fabienne. "La tension reste vive en Côte d'Ivoire à dix jours du référendum constitutionnel." (NEXIS)
Newswatch [Lagos]. 15 August 2000. Obong Akpaekong. "Ivory Coast; Diplomatic Face-off." (NEXIS)
Panafrican Agency (PANA) [Dakar]. 12 July 2000. "Deux membres de la direction du RDR arrêtés." Rassemblement des républicains de Côte d'Ivoire (RDR). 2000. "Historique", "Objectifs," "Structures," "Statuts," "Règlement intérieur." Attachment
Rassemblement des républicains de Côte d'Ivoire (RDR). 2000. "Historique" (5 p.), "Objectifs" (3 "Règlement intérieur" (24 p.). Additional Sources Consulted
Unsuccessful attempts to contact the RDR's leaders.
