Written question asked by John Bercow (Conservative) on Thursday, 20 April 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 April 2006. It was answered by Ian Pearson (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 April 2006 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by his Department to support and promote reform of the (a) security sector and (b) army in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Answer: Effective security sector reform is essential in ensuring long-term resolution of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and in the great lakes region. It is a UK priority. We are providing experts to the EU's Security Sector Reform Mission which offers advice to the DRC Government on integrating rebel factions into a unified army, on options for longer term comprehensive security sector reform and which is also implementing a military pay and administration reform project to ensure monthly salaries reach the soldiers on the ground. The UK is allocating approximately £5 million to support soldiers and their families in the newly integrated brigades, and an additional £3 million this year to other army-related interventions. We have contributed US $25 million over five years to the regional Multi-Country Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration Programme, through which DRC's national disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programme is funded, £9 million to a multi-donor police reform project, and £2 million to a justice reform project in the war-affected east of the country, an integral part of which will be support to the military justice system.

Secondary information