Democratic Republic of Congo (Hansard, 10 November 2003)

§ John Barrett
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received on whether Rwandan troops remain in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [136381]

§ Mr. Mullin
Since the withdrawal of the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in October 2002 we have received several unconfirmed reports from a variety of sources about the continued presence of RDF personnel in eastern DRC. The UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) has investigated these reports but has found no compelling evidence to support them. The Rwandan government, with whom we have raised these allegations, have denied they have forces in the DRC.

§ Tom Brake
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson) of 28 October 2003,Official Report, column 184W, on the Democratic Republic of Congo, what reports his Department has received of Rwandan (a) military, (b) financial and (c) political support for armed groups operating within the DRC; and if he will make a statement. [136401]

§ Mr. Mullin
Since the withdrawal of the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in October 2002 we have received several unconfirmed reports from a variety of sources alleging continued presence of RDF personnel in eastern DRC and military and financial support for some armed groups there. The UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) has found no compelling evidence to support such reports. The Rassemblement Congolais pour la Democratic, RCD-G, were politically allied to Rwanda during the conflict in DRC which preceded the formation of the Transitional National Government in Kinshasa.

§ Toni Brake
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms are available to(a) the Government and (b) the EU to put pressure on Uganda and Rwanda to stop their involvement in the internal affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement. [136402]
41W

§ Mr. Mullin
From the outset of the conflict we urged all parties to bring an immediate end to hostilities and called for an immediate ceasefire. These calls were incorporated in Security Council Resolutions, EU statements and the EU Common Position on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Ugandan and Rwandan Defence Force personnel were withdrawn from DRC in May/June 2003 and October 2002 respectively.

§ Tom Brake
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support(a) the Government and (b) the EU is providing to the Transitional National Government in Kinshasa to enable them effectively to (i) disarm and (ii) demobilise the (A) Interahamwe militia and (B) ex-Forces Armées Rwandaises. [136403]

§ Mr. Mullin
Disarmament, demobilisation, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration (DDR RR) of the ex-FAR/Interahamwe is crucial to the future peace and stability of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes region and is one of the key tasks of the UN Mission in DRC (MONUC). The UK is contributing $25million over five years to the World Bank's Multi-Country Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme, as well as supporting a wide range of other DDRRR-related and peace-building projects in the DRC, and the Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme in Rwanda.
The UK also supports diplomatic efforts to improve relations between the Governments of DRC and Rwanda, which include looking at how they can work together on tackling the problem caused to both countries by the ex-FAR/Interahamwe. This will help move DDRRR forward.