PROFILE OF INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT : REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE) Compilation of the information available in the Global IDP Database of the Norwegian Refugee Council (as of 8 April, 2005) Also available at http://www.idpproject.org Users of this document are welcome to credit the Global IDP Database for the collection of information. The opinions expressed here are those of the sources and are not necessarily shared by the Global IDP Project or NRC Norwegian Refugee Council/Global IDP Project Chemin de Balexert, 7-9 1219 Geneva - Switzerland Tel: + 41 22 799 07 00 Fax: + 41 22 799 07 01 E-mail :
[email protected] CONTENTS CONTENTS 1 PROFILE SUMMARY 5 AFTER TWO YEARS OF PEACE, INSECURITY PREVAILS AMID MASSIVE REHABILITATION NEEDS 5 CAUSES AND BACKGROUND 8 BACKGROUND 8 THE POLITICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANISATION OF CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE 8 GREED FOR PETROLEUM RENTS A MAJOR MOTIVATION FOR THE WARS 9 TENOUS CALM REIGNS IN THE POOL REGION AFTER FOUR MAJOR WARS BETWEEN 1992 AND 2003 (NOVEMBER 2004) 9 REPUBLIC OF CONGO STANDS AS ONE OF THE POOREST COUNTRIES IN AFRICA (2000) 12 REPUBLIC OF CONGO EXPERIENCED INCREASED STABILITY BETWEEN 2000-2002 13 MOST OF THE DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY IS VESTED DIRECTLY IN THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ADMINISTRATION 14 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS MARRED BY HOSTILITIES AND IRREGULARITIES (MAY 2002) 15 KEY EVENTS SINCE THE RETURN TO POWER OF SASSOU NGUESSO (1997-2002) 15 CONGO CHRONOLOGY FOR 2002 18 MASSIVE PRESENCE OF WEAPONS IN BRAZZAVILLE NEIGHBOURHOOD OCCUPIED BY DISPLACED FROM THE POOL REGION (MARCH 2005) 20 CAUSES OF