The Congolese exercised their constitutional right to elect their president and national assembly deputies to five-year terms of office through competitive multiparty elections for the first time in 1992 and 1993, respectively. President Lissouba s 1992 victory at the polls was widely considered to be free and fair, but 1993 legislative election results were disputed by the opposition. Presidential polls set for July 1997 were preempted by the civil war that returned Sassou-Nguesso to power. Freedom of assembly and association is constitutionally guaranteed, but interior ministry permission for public gatherings is occasionally denied, and there is a real threat of violence by government security forces or other armed factions. Human rights groups such as Congolese Human Rights Watch continue to operate, but often with great difficulty.
Religious freedom is respected in law and practice.
There are numerous and persistent reports of atrocities against civilians committed by both sides in the conflict. Victims describe persecution by soldiers and their militia allies at army roadblocks and recount being used as human shields by rebel militia forces. In November the army said any of its soldiers found guilty of committing abuses against civilians would be punished. Most of the president s soldiers are from northern ethnic groups, which exacerbates tensions between northerners and southerners. Aid agencies warn of a humanitarian crisis with up to 500,000 displaced people suffering from malnutrition and oppression.