Written question asked by Lord Avebury (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Triesman (Labour) on Wednesday, 2 November 2005.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Question: Whether they will take up the recommendations of the International Crisis Group in its report of 19 October, DRC: A Congo action plan, that the United Nations Organisation Mission in the Congo (MONUC) should take the lead in preparing for military action against the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda, and that MONUC should be strengthened so that it can fulfil its mandate to protect civilians.

Answer: The United Nations Organisation Mission in the Congo (MONUC) has begun exerting military pressure on the Forces Democratiques de Liberation du Rwanda (FDLR), to disrupt their operations in the Kivu provinces. We have encouraged MONUC to take a robust stance against the FDLR, including in support of Congolese army actions, but are clear that the solution to the problem requires other measures as well as military pressure.The international community has made clear in UN Security Council resolutions that civilian protection is an integral part of MONUC’s Chapter VII mandate. We would consider strengthening MONUC based on a realistic concept of operations presented by the Department for Peacekeeping Operations to the Security Council.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 1858; 675 c20WA
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Civilians Protection Peacekeeping operations United Nations Democratic Republic of the Congo
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk