Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC): Whether there are any areas within the country that are free from civil war activities
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 10 January 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | RDC33139.E |
| Reference | 5 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC): Whether there are any areas within the country that are free from civil war activities, 10 January 2000, RDC33139.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad7364.html [accessed 25 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. |
Information on whether there are any areas within the country that are free from civil war activities could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
According to various sources, all countries which were involved in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) armed conflict have signed a peace agreement for a cease-fire on 10 July 1999 in Lusaka, Zambia, (MISNA 15 Nov. 1999a; PANA 30 Aug. 1999; Info-Congo 31 Aug. 1999; ASADHO 29 Aug. 1999). Different rebel factions also signed the Lusaka accord in the end of the August 1999 (MISNA 15 Nov. 1999a; PANA 30 Aug. 1999; JDW 8 Sept. 1999; Info-Congo 31 Aug. 1999).
Please see attachment from BBC Online Network, a map showing rebel-held areas in August 1999.
Reacting to the United Nations observers deployment in different areas within the country, the DRC foreign minister stated that "the UN authorities are asking us to allow them [to] deploy in places that we find strange, namely to Matadi [Bas-Congo], Kamina [Katanga], Mbuji-Mayi [Eastern Kasai] and Kananga [Western Kasai]", where there "was neither contact between the belligerents nor presence of "non-invited foreign forces."" (UN OCHA 27 Oct. 1999).
However, current articles refer to a general curfew imposed by Kabila in all the held government-area in order to prevent rebel forces infiltration (Le Soir 15 Nov. 1999; AFP 13 Nov. 1999; MISNA 15 Nov. 1999b).
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 additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Agence France Presse (AFP). 13 November 1999. "Le gouvernement décrète "la patrie en danger" et instaure le couvre-feu."
Association africaine de défense des droits de l'homme (ASADHO). 29 August 1999. Communiqué: Accord de cessez-le-feu en République démocratique du Congo: où sont le droits de l'homme [Internet].
BBC Online Network. 9 September 1999. "World: Africa Timeline: The conflict in the the DR Congo."
Info-Congo/Kinshasa [Montréal]. 31 August 1999. No 152. "Accord signé à Lusaka."
Jane's Defence Weekly (JDW) [Alexandria, Va.]. 8 September 1999. Helmoed-Ramer Heitman. "Diplomacy Wins the Day as DRC Accord Is Struck." (NEXIS)
Missionary Service News Agency (MISNA). 15 November 1999a. "Congo-Dem. Republic: Craintes d'une 'offensive finale'/partie2 (Standard, General)."
_____. "Le gouvernement ordonne un couvre-feu nocturne (brief, Politics/Economy)".
Panafrican News Agency [PANA]. 30 August 1999. "Congo-Kinshasa; Congolese Faction Leader in Lusaka to Sign Cease-fire Accord." (NEXIS/Africa News Service)
Le Soir [Brussels]. 15 November 1999. "Gouvernement de Kinshasa et rebelles s'accusent mutuellement: les combats ont repris avec intensité au Congo."
UN OCHA Integrated Regional Information Network for Central and Eastern Africa (IRIN-CEA). 27 October 1999. IRIN-CEA Update 788 for the Great Lakes: DRC: Minister "Astonished" at Proposed UN Deployment."
BBC Online Network. August 1999. "A Copy of the Map Showing Rebel-held Areas."
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential [London]. 1999.
ASADHO. Reports and press releases. 1999.
L'Autre Afrique [Paris]. January-November 1999.
Info-Congo/Kinshasa [Montreal]. January-October 1999.
IRB Databases.
Jeune Afrique [Paris]. January-November 1999.
NewAfrican [London]. January-October 1999.
Le nouvel Afrique-Asie [Paris]. January-October 1999.
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1999.
Resource Centre. Country File. DRC. 1999.
World News Connection (WNC).
Internet sites including:
Africa Intelligence.
Africa News Service.
Congo2000.
Congonline.
Missionary Service News Agency (MISNA).
Panafrican News Agency (PANAM).
ReliefWeb.
