Zaire: Information on events that occurred between 16 and 24 May 1997, including the rebel takeover

This Response contains information available as of 28 May 1997. It should be noted that the situation continues to change rapidly. For more information on the rebellion and political events, please see the Info-Zaïre bulletins put out by the Round Table on Human Rights in Zaire (Table de concertation sur les droits humains au Zaïre), particularly those published between October 1996 and April 1997 (Nos. 120-126), as well as the Indexed Media Review, available in the Regional Documentation Centres.

The rebel movement led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila's Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (Alliance des forces démocratiques pour la libération du Congo—AFDL) seized power on 17 May 1997 (AFP 17 May 1997a; The New York Times 18 May 1997b, A1; Le Monde 20 May 1997b, 2). Since the start of the conflict in eastern Zaire in September 1996 (AFP 15 Mar. 1997; Le Monde 12 Apr. 1997), the AFDL's armed troops had steadily extended their control over the country (ibid.; Info-Zaïre 30 Apr. 1997), capturing one after another the major towns in the Kivu, Shaba, Upper Zaire and Kasai regions (ibid.). On 17 May 1997, they captured Kinshasa (AFP 17 May 1997a; The New York Times 18 May 1997b, A1).

President Mobutu had left the capital the previous day for Gbadolite, the place of his principal residence. He announced that he had [translation] "ceased all intervention in the affairs of the state" but would keep his title of [translation] "president" (Libération 17-18 May 1997, 2; Le Devoir 17-18 May 1997, A1; Le Monde 18-19 May 1997a, 2).

On Saturday, 17 May, Kabila, who had remained in Lubumbashi, Shaba region, proclaimed himself head of state of the country, which he renamed the [translation] "Democratic Republic of Congo" (AFP 20 May 1997b; The New York Times 18 May 1997a, A1). He announced that he would form a transitional government within 72 hours and create a constituent assembly within two months, and he proclaimed all existing constitutional acts null and void (AFP 20 May 1997b; Libération 19 May 1997b, 2; The New York Times 18 May 1997a, A1). Kabila demanded the armed forces capitulate (AFP 20 May 1997b; Libération 17-18 May 1997, 2; The New York Times 19 May 1997, A10) and asked people to denounce those soldiers who refused to do so (AFP 17 May 1997c). In addition, he asserted that he had contacted the Zairian army's generals and that they had agreed to place themselves under his command (AFP 17 May 1997a; The New York Times 18 May 1997b, A10). Finally, Kabila called for calm and stated that he would punish people involved in acts of pillaging or vengeance (AFP 20 May 1997b; see also The New York Times 18 May 1997b, A10). The AFDL promised to call elections, but only after two years (The Washington Post 19 May 1997; Libération 19 May 1997b, 2). At the time this Response was produced no election dates had yet been set.

Kabila arrived in Kinshasa on 21 May (The New York Times 21 May 1997, A3; The Washington Post 21 May 1997, A25). The following day, he named 13 members of his administration, a presidential-type government without a prime minister (AFP 23 May 1997b; The New York Times 24 May 1997, 6). He intends to fill seven other positions shortly (AFP 23 May 1997a). President Kabila took the national defence portfolio himself (The New York Times 25 May 1997, 8; Libération 24-25 May 1997, 13) and assigned other portfolios as follows (AFP 23 May 1997a):

- Internal Affairs: Dr. Mwenze Kongolo (AFDL)

- Information: Raphaël Ghenda (AFDL)

- Foreign Affairs: Bizima Karaha (AFDL)

- Finance: Mawapanga Mwanananga (AFDL)

- Public Service: Justine Mpoyo Kasavubu (UDPS)

- Transportation: Henri Mova Sakani (AFDL)

- Agriculture: Paul Bandomba (UDPS)

- Mines: Matukulo Kambale (AFDL)

- Postal Services and Telecommunications: Kinkela Vinkasi (Front Patriotique)

- Planning and Development: Dr. Babi Mbayi (AFDL)

- Health: Dr. Jean-Baptiste Sondji (Front Patriotique)

- National Education: Kamara wa Kahikara (AFDL)

- Justice: Célestin Luangi (AFDL)

All the institutions of the former regime were abolished, including the Transitional Parliament (HCR-PT) (ibid.). On Thursday, 22 May, the Zairean government's information agencies(the Zairean Press Agency (Agence de presse zaïroise) and the National Television and Radio Directorate (Direction de la télévision et de la radio nationale)(were suspended indefinitely (AFP 22 May 1997a).

Events Leading Up to the Rebel Takeover

        On 16 May 1997, the rebel forces first took a military camp near the Ndjili airport by storm (The New York Times 18 May 1997a, A10) and also captured the airport itself (Le Monde 20 May 1997b, 2; The Washington Post 19 May 1997). They then entered the capital the next day without facing any resistance (ibid.; The New York Times 18 May 1997a, A10; Le Monde 20 May 1997b, 2). Soldiers belonging to the various units of the Zairian army and other security forces surrendered peacefully (Libération 19 May 1997a, 2; AFP 18 May 1997c; The Washington Post 19 May 1997), although one source does mention confrontations between a group of soldiers and the rebels (Reuters 18 May 1997). According to another source, some officers were taken to the N'dolo prison, [translation] "tens of thousands" of soldiers were taken prisoner in camps and thousands of people considered suspect were imprisoned (Libération 19 May 1997a, 2). Numerous soldiers reportedly decided to join the ranks of the AFDL (AFP 18 May 1997c; Le Soir 20 May 1997b). According to Le Monde, members of the military shot and killed a number of these soldiers for doing so (18-19 May 1997b, 2; The New York Times 18 May 1997a, 10). In addition, scores were being settled before the rebels arrived in Kinshasa (Le Monde 18-19 May 1997b, 2; The New York Times 19 May 1997, A10). The general population also reportedly committed acts of vengeance against both civilians and soldiers (AFP 19 May 1997a; The Washington Post 19 May 1997).

General Mahele, who was the Zairian Armed Forces (Forces armées zaïroises—FAZ) chief of staff and the minister of defence, was reported to have been assassinated on 16 May by a member of the Special Presidential Division (Division spéciale présidentielle—DSP) (AFP 18 May 1997a; Libération 19 May 1997a, 2-3; DPA 17 May 1997). According to one source, Captain Kongolo, who is Mobutu's son and an officer in the DSP, reportedly ordered the execution of leaders of the former regime—particularly generals—who had ceased to resist the rebels (The New York Times 18 May 1997c, A10); allegations that he was involved in General Mahele's assassination (AFP 18 May 1997d; The New York Times 18 May 1997c, A10; Le Soir 20 May 1997b) have been denied by Kongolo (AFP 20 May 1997c). Le Monde reports that those close to Mobutu who were unable to flee or who are suspected of betraying him have gone underground (18-19 May 1997b, 2; see also The Washington Post 21 May 1997, A25).

The Red Cross reported that some 200 people were killed and 52 others injured when soldiers and rebels clashed near the Ndjili airport and elsewhere (AFP 18 May 1997e). AFP states that equal numbers of civilians and soldiers were killed in the clashes (18 May 1997f).

According to AFP, residential areas that had not yet been captured(namely, Binza, Ma campagne, and Mont-fleuri(were pillaged (18 May 1997f); allegedly, DSP members were mainly responsible for the pillaging in Binza (AFP 17 May 1997b).

Subsequent Events

        According to one source, in the period following Kabila's takeover the rebels robbed Kinshasa businessman Bemba Saolona at gunpoint in his home (The Washington Post 21 May 1997, A25). Another source stated that two businessmen were killed in Kinshasha on 20 May [translation] "by men in uniforms" (AFP 20 May 1997d). Guy Vanda, an advisor to Mobutu's son, was reportedly arrested for possession of a grenade at the Intercontinental Hotel, where the AFDL has its headquarters (The Washington Post 21 May 1997, A25). Le Soir reported that people suspected of having been "mouvanciers" (supporters of Mobutu) were being harassed and robbed by Kabila's soldiers (26 May 1997b).

According to Le Soir, [translation] "all the policemen and gendarmes of the former regime have disappeared" (ibid.; see also Libération 24-25 May 1997, 13). A number of senior officers of the Zairian security services fled to Brazzaville, Congo by boat: Mobutu's son Captain Kongolo (Libération 19 May 1997c, 4; Le Soir 20 May 1997b; AFP 18 May 1997a), former gendarmerie commander General Boluzi, and DSP commander General Nzimbi, along with some of his officers (ibid.). General Likulia Bolongo, who was prime minister in Mobutu's administration, is also reported to have taken refuge in Congo (ibid.). Sources report that 110 members of Mobutu's family fled Zaire (AFP 18 May 1997a; Le Monde 20 May 1997c, 2). Eighty-five of them, including Captain Kongolo (AFP 23 May 1997c), went to rejoin Mobutu in Lomé (AFP 20 May 1997a), where he was temporarily residing (AFP 20 May 1997e; The New York Times 20 May 1997, A11; The Washington Post 19 May 1997). Since 19 May, 155 Zairian citizens had reportedly arrived in Togo (AFP 21 May 1997a), among them Foreign Affairs Minister Kamanda wa Kamanda (Le Soir 20 May 1997b). According to AFP, 92 members of Mobutu's family and entourage, including General Boluzi and his family, then left for Chad on 21 May (23 May 1997c). Chad announced that it could not let them stay (AFP 22 May 1997c). The DIRB has not been able to obtain any information as to their current whereabouts.

In the week leading up to the rebels' entry into Kinshasa, numerous Zairian dignitaries (The Washington Post 19 May 1997) and businessmen, families of government members, and Lebanese and West African merchants reportedly sought refuge in Brazzaville while waiting for the crisis to end (AFP 16 May 1997). According to a Brazzaville official, the Congolese capital took in about 200 refugees daily from Zaire in the days preceding Kabila's takeover (ibid.). On 23 May, the UNHCR reported that 10,000 to 20,000 Zairians, including businessmen and former soldiers, had left Mobutu's native village of Gbadolite to seek refuge in Mobaye in the Central African Republic (AFP 23 May 1997g). According to the same source, there were 7,000 to 10,000 refugees from Zaire, mostly of Rwandan origin, in the Liranga and Loukolela regions of Congo (ibid.). Some refugees were reported to have gone to the Congolese towns of Bangassou and Bema (AFP 23 May 1997d).

Étienne Tshisekedi, leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social—UDPS), which had been the principal opposition party under the former regime, announced that he did not recognize the new government (The New York Times 24 May 1997, 6; The Ottawa Citizen 24 May 1997, A14) and called on people to reject it (ibid.; AFP 23 May 1997f). Hundreds of Tshisekedi supporters, mostly students, took part in an anti-Kabila demonstration in Kinshasa on 23 May (The New York Times 24 May 1997, 6; Libération 24-25 May 1997, 13; AFP 23 May 1997e). During another march the next day, Kabila's troops detained several dozens of people for questioning (The New York Times 25 May 1997, 8; Le Soir 26 May 1997a) but released them after the interrogations (Reuters 27 May 1997). At the same time, the soldiers allowed a smaller group of Kabila supporters to proceed with their march (ibid.; The New York Times 25 May 1997, 8). On 21 May, students in Kisangani took part in a demonstration to protest against the murder the previous day of a student by AFDL soldiers (AFP 21 May 1997b).

A source reports that on Thursday, 22 May, the rebels captured the town and port of Matadi, located to the south-west of Kinshasa, without meeting any resistance; DSP members had taken refuge there before fleeing to Angola (AFP 22 May 1997b). For the past few weeks in eastern Zaire, according to AFP, Kabila's men have been attacking Rwandan Hutu refugees and non-Tutsi civilians in the North Kivu and South Kivu regions—in particular in Goma, Bukavu, Uvira, Masisi and the area around Fizi—as well as in the vicinity of Kisangani (18 May 1997b). In these same areas, Hutu militias are waging a war against the Tutsis and sometimes attack villages near Katale and Kibumba (New African May 1997, 9).

First South Africa (Le Monde 20 May 1997d, 3; Le Soir 20 May 1997a) and then Angola, Rwanda, Burundi, Libya and Zimbabwe recognized the new Democratic Republic of Congo (ibid.; The Washington Post 19 May 1997; Le Monde 20 May 1997a, 1). The United States (AFP 19 May 1997b), Spain and other European countries have recognized the new regime de facto (Le Soir 20 May 1997a). Canada is waiting to receive an official notification before recognizing Zaire's new name (The Vancouver Sun 24 May 1997; Calgary Herald 23 May 1997).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 23 May 1997a. "Formation du premier gouvernement de la RDC."

_____. 23 May 1997b. Anne Chaon. "Un régime présidentiel pour la nouvelle République congolaise."

_____. 23 May 1997c. "Mobutu: une semaine entre son départ de Kinshasa et son arrivée au Maroc."

_____. 23 May 1997d. "Arrivée de plus de 10 000 réfugiés rwandais, burundais et ex-zaïrois."

_____. 23 May 1997e. "Première manifestation contre M. Kabila à Kinshasa."

_____. 23 May 1997f. "M. Tshisekedi rejette le nouveau gouvernement congolais."

_____. 23 May 1997g. "La chute de Mobutu a provoqué un afflux de réfugiés zaïrois en Centrafrique."

_____. 22 May 1997a. "Suspension des responsables des médias zaïrois."

_____. 22 May 1997b. "Les troupes de l'Alliance prennent la ville portuaire de Matadi."

_____. 22 May 1997c. "Le Tchad n'est 'pas en mesure d'abriter' l'entourage du maréchal Mobutu."

_____. 21 May 1997a. François-Xavier Harispe. "Premiers départs dans l'entourage du président Mobutu."

_____. 21 May 1997b. "Un étudiant tué à Kisangani et les Tutsis pris à partie."

_____. 20 May 1997a. "Départ pour Lomé d'une importante partie de la famille du maréchal Mobutu."

_____. 20 May 1997b. Alliance des forces démocratiques pour la libération du Congo (AFDL). "Déclaration de prise de pouvoir."

_____. 20 May 1997c. "Le capitaine Mobutu Kongolo affirme avoir voulu 'secourir' le général Mahele."

_____. 20 May 1997d. "Deux hommes d'affaires français assassinés à Kinshasa."

_____. 20 May 1997e. "Confirmation togolaise officielle de la présence de M. Mobutu à Lomé."

_____. 19 May 1997a. Kevin McElderry. "Règlements de compte à Kinshasa."

_____. 19 May 1997b. "Washington reconnaît de facto le nouveau régime et le nouveau nom du Zaïre."

_____. 18 May 1997a. Joseph Gouala. "Paralysie des activités au port fluvial de Brazzaville."

_____. 18 May 1997b. Christophe Parayre. "Tensions inter-ethniques persistantes malgré la victoire de la rébellion."

_____. 18 May 1997c. Kevin McElderry. "Les troupes de la Division spéciale présidentielle ont rendu leurs armes."

_____. 18 May 1997d. Mario Fiorito. "Fin de règne sans honneur pour le maréchal Mobutu."

_____. 18 May 1997e. "Plus de 200 morts à Kinshasa, selon un nouveau bilan de la Croix-Rouge."

_____. 18 May 1997f. Mario Fiorito. "Les morts de Kinshasa: presque autant de pillards que de militaires au combat."

_____. 17 May 1997a. "Laurent-Désiré Kabila se proclame chef d'État du Zaïre."

_____. 17 May 1997b. "Pillages dans un quartier résidentiel de Kinshasa."

_____. 17 May 1997c. "Les militaires ont au plus tard jusqu'à 'demain matin' pour déposer les armes."

_____. 16 May 1997. Joseph Gouala. "Exode momentané des Kinois à Brazzaville."

_____. 15 March 1997. "La rébellion dans l'est du Zaire."

Calgary Herald. 23 May 1997. "UN Will Be Busy with Name Change." (NEXIS)

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 17 May 1997. BC Cycle. "Report: Zairean Defense Chief Assassinated, Troops Abandon Airport." (NEXIS)

Le Devoir [Montréal]. 17-18 May 1997. "Mobutu quitte le pouvoir."

Info-Zaïre [Montréal]. 30 April 1997a. No. 126. "Avancées de l'Alliance."

Libération [Paris]. 24-25 May 1997. Marie-Laure Colson. "Tshisekedi appelle à résister à la dictature de Kabila."

_____. 19 May 1997a. Jean Hatzfeld. "Kinshasa livrée aux mains des soldats de Kabila."

_____. 19 May 1997b. "Un gouvernement dès demain."

_____. 19 May 1997c. Marie-Laure Colson. "Brazzaville, zone de transit avant l'exil."

_____. 17-18 May 1997. "Le maréchal Mobutu abandonne le Zaïre à son rival Kabila."

Le Monde [Paris]. 20 May 1997a. "La République du Congo succède au Zaïre."

_____. 20 May 1997b. Frédéric Fritscher. "Le jour où Kinshasa est devenue la capitale du nouveau Congo."

_____. 20 May 1997c. "L'errance du maréchal Mobutu et de sa famille."

_____. 20 May 1997d. Frédéric Chambon. "L'Afrique du Sud reconnaît le nouveau régime."

_____. 18-19 May 1997a. "Les rebelles zaïrois entrent dans Kinshasa."

_____. 18-19 May 1997b. "À Kinshasa, les derniers soubresauts du mobutisme."

_____. 12 April 1997. Frédéric Fritscher. "Kabila, un opposant qui a su attendre son heure."

New African [London]. May 1997. François Misser. "Kabila's Country."

The New York Times. 25 May 1997. "Troops in Congo Break Up Anti-Kabila Protests."

_____. 24 May 1997. Howard W. French. "Congo Leader's Cabinet Ignites Protests."

_____. 21 May 1997. Howard W. French. "Kabila Reaches Congo's Capital After 7-Month Quest." (NEXIS)

_____. 20 May 1997. Howard W. French. "Old Regime Meets the New, and Hatchets Are Buried."

_____. 19 May 1997. Howard W. French. "Rebel Army Consolidates Its Hold over Kinshasa."

_____. 18 May 1997a. Howard W. French. "With Mobutu out, Rebel Chief Claims Presidency."

_____. 18 May 1997b. James C. McKinley Jr. "Zairian Rebel and His Plan Puzzle West."

_____. 18 May 1997c. Howard W. French. "Mobutu's Son Lingers, Reportedly Settling Scores."

The Ottawa Citizen. 24 May 1997. Andrew Maykuth. "Kabila's Troops Fire on Protesters."

Reuters. 27 May 1997. Arthur Malu-Malu. "Congo - Les partisans de Tshisekedi défient Kabila." [Internet]

_____. 18 May 1997. "Zaire Rebels Cheered; Peace Seen in Kinshasa." [Internet] (URL: http://www.yahoo.com/headlines/970518/news/stories/zaire_41.html( [Accessed: 23 May 1997]

Le Soir [Brussels, in French]. 26 May 1997a. "Manifestation réprimée à Kinshasa. 'Green Stream': retour du Congo." [Internet]  [Accessed: 26 May 1997].

_____. 26 May 1997b. Colette Braeckman. "Kinshasa, mi-charme, mi-glaive." [Internet]  [Accessed: 26 May 1997].

_____. 20 May 1997a. "Kabila accueilli avec enthousiasme en Afrique, mais avec prudence au Nord." [Internet]  [Accessed: 22 May 1997].

_____. 20 May 1997b. Colette Braeckman. "Kinshasa: comment a trépassé la dictature." [Internet]  [Accessed: 22 May 1997].

The Vancouver Sun. 24 May 1997. "Kabila Keeps Power for Himself, Snubs Congo's Opposition Leader: Troops Fire over the Head of Demonstrators Staging a Loud March Through Kinshasa." (NEXIS)

The Washington Post. 21 May 1997. Lynne Duke. "Formation of Interim Government."

_____. 19 May 1997. Lynne Duke. "Victorious Rebels Pour into Kinshasa; Some Mobutu Supporters Killed." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Agence France Presse (AFP). 23 May 1997. "Mobutu: une semaine entre son départ de Kinshasa et son arrivée au Maroc."

_____. 20 May 1997. Alliance des forces démocratiques pour la libération du Congo. "Déclaration de prise de pouvoir."

Le Monde [Paris]. 18-19 May 1997. "Les rebelles zaïrois entrent dans Kinshasa," p. 1.

_____. 18-19 May 1997. "À Kinshasa, les derniers soubresauts du mobutisme," p. 2.

The New York Times. 25 May 1997. "Troops in Congo Break Up Anti-Kabila Protests."

_____. 18 May 1997. Howard W. French. "With Mobutu out, Rebel Chief Claims Presidency."

_____. 18 May 1997. James C. McKinley Jr. "Zairian Rebel and His Plan Puzzle West."

The Washington Post. 19 May 1997. Lynne Duke. "Victorious Rebels Pour into Kinshasa; Some Mobutu Supporters Killed." (NEXIS)