Zaire: Information on the Parti lumumbiste unifié (PALU), on its current leaders and membership, its location, and on the PALU cercles de réflexion estudiantines
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZAR23790.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Zaire: Information on the Parti lumumbiste unifié (PALU), on its current leaders and membership, its location, and on the PALU cercles de réflexion estudiantines, 1 May 1996, ZAR23790.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acf558.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A Reuters report states that the Parti lumumbiste unifié (PALU) joined the government coalition on 26 February 1996 and that some of its members were appointed to cabinet positions in the government led by Prime Minister Kengo wa Dongo (26 Feb. 1996). By joining with the government the PALU has broken ranks with the Union sacrée de l'opposition radicale, a coalition group opposed to the Mobutu regime (EIU ViewsWire 17 Apr. 1996). PALU was known in the past to belong to a hard line wing opposed to any form of collaboration with Mobutu (Documentation-Réfugiés 16-29 Mar. 1993). PALU was founded in 1964 by Antoine Gizenza who left Zaire in 1966 (ibid.). Gizenga returned to Zaire on 7 February 1992 (Reuters 7 Feb. 1992).
For information on the treatment of PALU members by the authorities, please consult the attached articles and Response to Information Request ZAR22402.E of 7 December 1995. Information on the PALU cercles de réflexions estudiantines could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.
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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Documentation-Réfugiés [Paris]. 16-29 March 1993. No. 212. "Zaïre : fiche pays."
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ViewsWire. 17 April 1996. "Zaire Politics: Kengo Still Walking Tightrope." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 26 February 1996. BC Cycle. "Zaire Cabinet Shuffled Extensively." (NEXIS)
_____. 7 February 1992. BC Cycle. "Lumumba Follower Returns to Zaire From 26-Year Exile." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Africa News [London]. April 1996. "United States and Africa (DOCUMENT) Law Group Opposes U.S. Visa for Mobutu." (NEXIS)
Documentation-Réfugiés [Paris]. 16-29 March 1993. No. 212. "Zaïre : fiche pays," pp. 14-17.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ViewsWire. 17 April 1996. "Zaire Politics: Kengo Still Walking Tightrope." (NEXIS)
The Independent [London]. 3 March 1996. Heather Mills. "Refugee Fights for the 'Right to Life'." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 26 February 1996. BC Cycle. "Zaire Cabinet Shuffled Extensively." (NEXIS)
_____. 7 February 1992. BC Cycle. "Lumumba Follower Returns to Zaire From 26-Year Exile." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Reports. Daily.
Political Handbook of the World. Yearly. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. New York: CSA Publications.
Unsuccessful attempts were made to contact one oral source in Kinshasa.