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Democratic Republic of Congo: Whether a document called an "indicia of lost documents" (attestation de perte de pièces) is accepted as a means of identification; if so, the date this measure came into force, whether the document is mandatory for everyone (men and women), whether the document bears stamps of the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) and the Migration Branch (DGM), which ensure its validity; the requirements for obtaining such a document and whether the lost identity documents are indexed (January 2006)

Information on the 'indicia of lost documents' (attestation de perte de pièces) was limited among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

A report on identity documents from a May 2004 joint mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) conducted by the Belgian organization called the General Commissioner for Refugees and Stateless Persons (Commissariat général aux réfugiés et apatrides, CGRA), the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides, OFPRA), and the Swiss Federal Office for Refugees (Office fédéral des réfugiés, ODR) stated that, in the DRC,

[translation]

indicia of lost identity documents can serve in lieu of identity documents issued by the authorities, and appear in various formats. They are often issued on the basis of a simple declaration and without any verification, and they enable, for example, the bearer to cross the border into Brazzaville (together with a laissez-passer from the Migration Branch, issued in five minutes for a fee of $5) (Projet ARGO July 2004).

However, this same mission report did not provide any information on the content of such indicia (ibid.).

Nevertheless, the indicia of lost documents was not included in the list of documents required to identify and register voters for the constitutional referendum of 18 and 19 December 2005, found under article 10 of Law No. 04/028 of 24 December 2004 on the identification and registration of voters in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC 24 Dec. 2004). Article 10 stipulates that the following pieces of identification may be used as proof of a voter's age and identity:

[translation]

a certificate of nationality or a statement in lieu of a certificate of nationality;

a national identity card;

a national passport;

a secure national driver's licence;

the Congolese pension booklet issued by the National Social Security Institute (Institut national de sécurité sociale) or by any other legally recognized Congolese institution;

a student card;

a military card (ibid.).

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

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 24 December 2004. National Assembly. Loi n° 04/028 du 24 décembre 2004 portant identification et enrôlement des électeurs en République démocratique du Congo. <http://www.cei-rdc.org/loident.pdf> [Accessed 16 Jan. 2006]

Projet ARGO. July 2004. Democratic Republic of Congo. Documents d'identité. Report from the joint mission to Kinshasa conducted by the Commissariat général aux réfugiés et apatrides (CGRA), the Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides (OFPRA) and the [Swiss] Office fédéral des réfugiés (ODR) in May 2004.

Additional Sources Consulted

Publications: Africa Confidential, Africa Research Bulletin, L'Afrique des Grands lacs: Annuaire 2004-2005, Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent, Resource Centre country file.

Internet sites, including: AllAfrica.com, Amnesty International, BBC News, CIA World Factbook, European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI.net), Factiva, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch (HRW), IDP report of Norwegian Refugee Council, International Crisis Group (ICG), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Migration News, Minorities at Risk Project, ReliefWeb, UNHCR, United Kingdom Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), United Nations Security Council, US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, United States Department of State.