Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench). It was answered on Wednesday, 30 April 2008.

Democratic Republic of Congo: UN Troops

Question: My Lords, does the Minister agree that the phenomenal loss of life in the Democratic Republic of Congo, estimated at more than 3 million over the past decade or so, this haemorrhaging of life, has been brought about because of the free flow of arms into the Congo? However, 95 per cent of all weapons going into Africa are manufactured outside of Africa. That underlines the need for the United Nations to act constructively by not only creating a global arms treaty such as they are considering, but stopping the flow into the Congo, especially into the hands of young people and children who have been armed beyond belief.

Answer: My Lords, as the noble Lord knows, the UK is one of the leaders in trying to get a global arms treaty to cover small arms, which are a devastating weapon in the hands of young people and generally among insurgents and other poorly trained groups. The good news about the Congo is that, for now at least, the violence is behind us. The peace agreement and elections, all of it policed and supported by MONUC, has led to a much more stable situation. Despite these very troubling allegations and concerns, MONUC’s record overall shows that it has been a decisive force for peace in that difficult country.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 701 c242-3
Session: 2007-08
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Corruption Arms trade Misconduct Peacekeeping operations United Nations Democratic Republic of the Congo
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk