THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of CONGO COUNTRY of ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service
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THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service 9 March 2012 THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO 9 MARCH 2012 Contents Preface Latest News EVENTS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO FROM 2 DECEMBER 2011 TO 29 FEBRUARY 2012 Useful news sources for further information REPORTS ON THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO PUBLISHED OR ACCESSED BETWEEN 2 DECEMBER 2011 AND 29 FEBRUARY 2012 Paragraphs Background Information 1. GEOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 1.01 Map ........................................................................................................................ 1.10 2. ECONOMY ................................................................................................................ 2.01 Corruption ............................................................................................................. 2.05 3. HISTORY (1960 TO 2010) .......................................................................................... 3.01 Independence and the Mobutu era (1960 - 1997) ............................................... 3.02 The end of the cold war and democratisation (1990 - 1993) .............................. 3.04 Rwandan crisis, civil war and the end of Mr Mobutu (1993 - 1997) .................... 3.05 Laurent Kabila and a second war (1997 - 2001) ................................................. 3.06 Joseph Kabila, end of civil war and transitional government (2001 - 2005) .... 3.13 A new constitution and national elections (2005 - 2007) .................................. 3.16 Rapprochment with Rwanda and rebel conflict in east (2008 - 2010) .............. 3.17 UN peacekeeping force changes (2010) ............................................................. 3.18 Preparation for elections (2010) .......................................................................... 3.20 4. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS (JANUARY – DECEMBER 2011) ............................................. 4.01 2011 elections ....................................................................................................... 4.17 5. CONSTITUTION .......................................................................................................... 5.01 6. POLITICAL SYSTEM ................................................................................................... 6.01 Political parties ..................................................................................................... 6.03 Human Rights 7. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 7.01 International treaties and agreements ................................................................ 7.12 8. SECURITY SITUATION ................................................................................................ 8.01 Eastern Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) ...................................................... 8.09 Orientale Province .............................................................................................. 8.09 North and South Kivu, Maniema and Katanga provinces ................................... 8.10 9. SECURITY FORCES .................................................................................................... 9.01 Police ..................................................................................................................... 9.06 Armed forces ........................................................................................................ 9.12 Integration of former rebels into the armed forces .............................................. 9.21 Other government forces ..................................................................................... 9.24 International forces .............................................................................................. 9.25 Human rights violations by government forces ................................................ 9.29 Impunity .............................................................................................................. 9.33 Arbitrary arrest and detention ............................................................................. 9.36 ii The main text of this COI Report contains the most up to date publicly available information as at 1 December 2011. Further brief information on recent events and reports has been provided in the Latest News section to 29 February 2012. 9 MARCH 2012 THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Torture and ill-treatment ..................................................................................... 9.40 Male rape ........................................................................................................... 9.48 Avenues of complaint .......................................................................................... 9.50 10. MILITARY SERVICE .................................................................................................... 10.01 Desertion ............................................................................................................... 10.02 11. NON-GOVERNMENT ARMED GROUPS ........................................................................... 11.01 Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) ................................. 11.02 Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) ............................................................................ 11.03 The Patriots Alliance for a Free and Sovereign Congo (APCLS) ..................... 11.04 Mai Mai militia ....................................................................................................... 11.05 Coalition of Congolese Patriotic Resistance (PARECO) ................................... 11.09 Allied Democratic Forces / National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (ADF / NALU) ......................................................................................................... 11.12 Front for patriotic resistance in Ituri/Popular Front for Justice in Congo (FRPI / FPCJ) ......................................................................................................... 11.13 Enyele/Independent Movement of Liberation and Allies (MILIA) ..................... 11.14 Human rights violations by armed groups ......................................................... 11.15 Arbitrary arrest and detention ............................................................................. 11.20 Forced recruitment of children ............................................................................ 11.21 Torture and ill-treatment ..................................................................................... 11.23 Rape ................................................................................................................... 11.23 Forced conscription ............................................................................................ 11.27 12. JUDICIARY ................................................................................................................ 12.01 Organisation ......................................................................................................... 12.03 Military courts ....................................................................................................... 12.13 Independence ....................................................................................................... 12.21 Corruption ............................................................................................................ 12.23 Fair trial ................................................................................................................. 12.24 Penal code ............................................................................................................ 12.28 13. ARREST AND DETENTION – LEGAL RIGHTS .................................................................. 13.01 14. PRISON AND DETENTION FACILITY CONDITIONS ............................................................ 14.01 Pre-trial detention ................................................................................................. 14.06 Prison records ...................................................................................................... 14.10 Prison conditions ................................................................................................. 14.11 Deaths in prison ................................................................................................... 14.18 Escapes ................................................................................................................. 14.21 Goma prison ......................................................................................................... 14.22 15. DEATH PENALTY ....................................................................................................... 15.01 16. POLITICAL AFFILIATION.............................................................................................. 16.01 Freedom of political expression.......................................................................... 16.02 Freedom of association and assembly ............................................................... 16.06 Opposition groups and political activists .......................................................... 16.11 Congolese Rally for Democracy – Goma (RCD-Goma) ..................................... 16.18 Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) ..................................................................