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Republic of the Congo: David Charles Ganao's Union of Democratic Forces, particularly a description of the membership card and treatment of members by Congolese government authorities (May 2006)

No information on the membership card for the Union of Democratic Forces (Union des forces démocratiques, UFD) or on the treatment of UFD members by Congolese authorities could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints for this Response.

An article published by Agence France-Presse (AFP) on 27 November 2005, however, indicates that the UFD, headed by David Charles Ganao (see also Europa 2005 2005, 1325), has a senator and three members of parliament in the [translation] "presidential majority parliamentary group." According to The Europa World Year Book 2005, the UFD supports the Congolese government (2005, 1325).

The AFP article also mentions the expulsion of certain UFD leaders, including Pierre Ernest Abandzounou, UFD vice-president and minister of scientific research with the Congolese government (AFP 27 Nov. 2007; see also Télé-Congo 19 Dec. 2005). Two other leaders were also expelled and eight were suspended (AFP 27 Nov. 2005). The article did not indicate the name and position of those people (ibid.). In November 2005, the dismissed leaders created a [translation] "political" association called the Action Committee for Progress (Comité d'action pour le progrès, CAP), and were accused by the UFD steering committee of carrying out [translation] "actions aimed at destabilizing the party" (AFP 27 Nov. 2005; Radio-Congo 13 Nov. 2005). According to the transcript of a program that aired on Radio-Congo on 13 November 2005 that was posted on the Congo-Site.info Website, the leader of CAP is Pierre Ernest Abandzounou, former UFD vice-president (Radio-Congo 13 Nov. 2005)

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 for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 27 November 2005. "Un ministre exclu de son parti pour 'action de déstabilisation.'" (Factiva)

The Europa World Year Book 2005. 2005. 46th Ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

Télé-Congo. 19 December 2005. Nana Ikama. "Retranscription du journal de 20 h Télé-Congo, du lundi 19 décembre 2005." [Accessed 4 May 2006]

Radio-Congo. 13 November 2005. Brice Nicaise Elanda. "Retranscription du journal de 21 h Radio-Congo, du dimanche 13 novembre 2005." [Accessed 4 May 2006]

Additional Sources Consulted

Publications: Africa Confidential, Africa Research Bulletin, Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent, Keesing's Record of World Events, Resource Centre country file.

Internet sites, including: AllAfrica.com, Amnesty International, BBC News, CIA World Factbook, Les Dépêches de Brazzaville, European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI.net), Factiva, Fédération international des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH), Freedom House, Human Rights Watch (HRW), Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), International Crisis Group (ICG), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), ReliefWeb, United Kingdom Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), United Nations Security Council, United States Department of State.

Topics: Political parties,