“Faire les civilites”

Before we can begin any activities in Impfondo and the surrounding area – research, INCEF project work, etc. – we must first “faire les civilites,” a procedural form of official communication required by local authorities. Because it involves face-to-face communication with individual government officials, the fact that we have arrived late on a Friday afternoon means that we cannot begin this process until the following Monday, when those officials will again be receiving petitioners and visitors. INCEF and its partner organizations, UNICEF and Medecins d’Afrique (MDA) are well known in Impfondo and have been working here for years, but each visit and resumption of project activities requires that a formal letter of mission be presented to the district Prefect, and the Sub-Prefect, and also possibly to the head of the local police. This letter of mission is the same document that was examined and stamped when we arrived at the airport.

Of course, Impfondo is a small town (or perhaps a very large village), so we also run into some of the same officials we must meet with at the town’s principal restaurant, Le Tropicana. Here, appointments may be made, or the intention to make the appointment signaled, and my presence in Impfondo explained in advance. Because Impfondo is a small place where everyone knows everyone else, and because I do tend to stick out in the crowd here, I must be explained.

Monday finally arrives, and together with the INCEF educator from Brazzaville and the local INCEF educator based in Impfondo, I walk over to the location of our first appointment at the residence of the district Prefect. First, we wait outside on the street, while a cell phone conversation and a few other conversations with the police guards outside the compound establish the fact that we have an appointment. Then we are escorted inside, across a courtyard to a seating area outside what appears to be the main building. We have a view of a staircase leading to another building, decorated with elaborate wooden carvings, and a small wooden bridge connecting to the main house. After a wait, the Protocol Officer comes out, greets us, and takes the letter of mission up the stairs and across the bridge into the house. After more waiting, the Protocol Officer returns and escorts us up the stairs and into the outer building, which turns out to be an office almost entirely filled by a conference table and seats for about twenty people. There we wait until the Prefect enters the office, and we stand until he is seated. He has our letter of mission, and asks several questions to the INCEF educators. He also discusses their overall project goal, violence prevention, and the reasons why he believes this is necessary in the region. My presence is also explained, and my credentials offered. At the conclusion of the meeting, we are given permission to proceed, as well as the assurance that we will have whatever support the Prefect can offer. I must fill in a register book with my name and cell phone number, and then we are escorted out.

Next, we walk to the offices of the Sub-Prefect, where a similar procedure is carried out in somewhat less grand surroundings. I am introduced, the project work and scope is explained, and our letter of mission is stamped and signed. I am surprised at how uncomfortable the whole process makes me, and how odd it feels. It is very easy to get exasperated with this extensive official gatekeeping. When I ask about it, both INCEF educators seem surprised that I have questions about the process. They explain that it is necessary for all local officials to be informed directly about our activities, and for them to authorize and facilitate our work by contacting the village chiefs in locations where we plan to work. Likewise, they point out, if we were to get into any trouble during our work, which might require official intervention, we would be unable to appeal for assistance if our work had not received prior authorization.

Again, the process of communication with official bureaucracy appears as an important factor in accomplishing both INCEF’s work, and my research work. There are particular procedures, words, and terms associated with this communication, and written documents appear to play a very important role. Likewise, the face-to-face experience and official office settings are important (even necessary). One may not faire les civilites via email, or over the telephone. The statement of the credentials and background of all participants also seems to be part of the process. I noticed that my own credentials became slightly inflated (I was suddenly introduced as a “professor,” rather than a mere “researcher”), and institutional affiliation was also important. This entire process must also be repeated at the conclusion of our work in the area, and we will return to these same offices to give an oral report of the outcomes of the project.