§ Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether they will suspend the removal of failed asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of Congo who were resident in Bukavu. [HL3308]
§ Baroness Scotland of Asthal: As with applications from all nationalities, each asylum (and human rights) claim made by someone from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is considered by the Home Office on its individual merits, in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Individual asylum seekers from DRC found by both the Home Office and the Independent Appellate Authority not to be at risk of persecution and not in need of humanitarian protection are considered for removal on a case by case basis.
§ All returns of failed asylum seekers from DRC are to Kinshasa only. In the current circumstances, we see no need to suspend returns of failed asylum seekers who originate from or have been resident in Bukavu.