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