Responses to Information Requests

​​​​​​​Responses to Information Requests (RIRs) are research reports on country conditions. They are requested by IRB decision-makers.

The database contains a seven-year archive of English and French RIRs. Earlier RIRs may be found on the European Country of Origin Information Network website.

RIR​s published by the IRB on its website may have attachments that are inaccessible due to technical constraints and may include translations of documents originally written in languages other than English or French. To obtain a copy of such attachments and/or translated version of the RIR attachments, please email us.​

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Disclaimer

Responses to Information Requests (RIRs) cite publicly accessible information available at the time of publication and within time constraints. A list of references and additional sources consulted are included in each RIR. Sources cited are considered the most current information available as of the date of the RIR.            

RIRs are not, and do not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Rather, they are intended to support the refugee determination process. More information on the methodology used by the Research Directorate can be found here.          

The assessment and weight to be given to the information in the RIRs are the responsibility of independent IRB members (decision-makers) after considering the evidence and arguments presented by the parties.           

The information presented in RIRs solely reflects the views and perspectives of the sources cited and does not necessarily reflect the position of the IRB or the Government of Canada.          

2 July 2010

COD103524.FE

Democratic Republic of the Congo: International driver’s permit issued in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including its use and the number of DRC citizens who possess it; whether this permit is used to travel within the country
Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

Sources consulted by the Research Directorate indicate that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) issues the international driver’s permit to its citizens (DRC 25 June 2010; ibid. 24 June 2010; CDH 24 June 2010).

During a 25 June 2010 telephone interview with the Research Directorate, a representative of the Ministry of Transport and Communication Routes (ministère des Transports et Voies de communication) in the DRC stated that all Congolese citizens are entitled to request an international driver’s permit. However, stating that he did not know how many people have one, the ministry’s representative specified that the holder of the international driver’s permit is not authorized to use it to drive within the country (DRC 25 June 2010; ibid. 24 June 2010). The international driver’s permit issued to Congolese citizens must be used to drive in other countries (ibid. 25 June 2010; ibid. 24 June 2010; CDH 24 June 2010). Additional information on other uses that the Congolese people might have for the international driver’s permit could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

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 sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Centre des droits de l’homme et du droit humanitaire (CDH). 24 June 2010. Telephone interview with a representative.

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 25 June 2010. Ministère des Transports et Voies de communication. Telephone interview with a representative.

_____. 24 June 2010. Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Ottawa. Telephone interview with a representative.

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Attempts to contact the Commission nationale de délivrance des permis de conduire (CONADEP) in Kinshasa were unsuccessful.

Internet sites, including: Afrol News, AllAfrica.com, European Country of Origin Information Network (ecoi.net), Gouvernement de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC), Grioo.com, InfoSud-Belgique (InfoSud), Internationale de l’éducation (IE), Organisation internationale de la francophonie (OIF), Réseau des médias francophones (MEDIAF), United Nations – Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), United Nations – United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United States – Department of State.

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