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
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.