Written question asked by Mark Oaten (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 30 October 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 4 November 2008. It was answered by Baroness Merron (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 November 2008 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Rwanda: Armed Conflict

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the recent fighting in the region.

Answer: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Tanzania on 1-2 November with his French counterpart, Bernard Kouchner. During the visit, he urged President Kabila of the DRC and President Kagame of Rwanda to pursue a political solution to the problems of the eastern DRC, including by fully implementing the Nairobi Accord.We will continue to work with the DRC and Rwandan Governments, as well as others including the UN, the African Union and the EU, to seek a long-term solution. Meanwhile, we urge that the current ceasefire is maintained and humanitarian access is allowed to help those most affected by recent fighting.

Secondary information