HC Deb 28 October 2003 vol 412 cc192-3W
Angus Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports(a) he, (b) his Department and (c) representatives of the United Kingdom Government have received of incursions of Rwandan troops into the Democratic Republic of the Congo; what discussions he has had with representatives of the Government of Rwanda concerning these reports; what assurances were (i) requested and (ii) offered during these discussions; and if he will make a statement. [134469]

Mr. Mullin

We are aware of continuing reports of incursions of Rwandan troops into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These reports have been investigated by the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) and found to be unsubstantiated. We discuss such reports with the Government of Rwanda, at both Ministerial and official level. They have assured us their armed forces withdrew from DRC in October 2002, as provided for in the Pretoria Agreement of 30 July 2002, and have not re-entered.

Angus Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports(a) he, (b) his Department and (c) representatives of the United Kingdom Government have received on the regrouping of Interahamwe militia groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; what assessment his Department has made of the impact on security in the region; and if he will make a statement. [134470]

Mr. Mullin

We are aware of reports that Interahamwe militia and ex-Forces Armees Rwandaises (ex-FAR/I) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are regrouping. While these reports are difficult to verify, the ex-FAR/I pose a real threat to the security of Rwanda and the stability of the region as a whole. Their disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration (DDRRR) is crucial to long-term stability. The UN mission in the DRC (MONUC) is mandated to undertake voluntary demobilisation of the ex-FAR/I and other foreign armed groups in DRC and we fully support their efforts. We are encouraged by the recent statement of the Transitional National Government (TNG) in Kinshasa, that the TNG would no longer tolerate the presence on its national territory of the ex-FAR/I. The recent visit to Kinshasa by a high-level Rwandan delegation to discuss how the two countries can work together to help resolve this problem is a further positive sign.

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