Written question asked by David Leslie Taylor (Labour) on Friday, 7 November 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 November 2008. It was answered by Baroness Merron (Labour) on Monday, 24 November 2008 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Peacekeeping Operations

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government plan to take at the United Nations to strengthen the UN peacekeeping force's mandate in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Answer: We believe that the mandate of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) focuses on the key challenges facing the country. The mission is mandated, inter alia; to protect civilians, including humanitarian personnel; to assist in humanitarian access and return of internally displaced persons; to assist in the protection of human rights; to support operations to disarm enemy combatants; to support and facilitate the disarmament, demobilisation and repatriation of Congolese and foreign combatants. The UN Security Council regularly reviews the mandate of MONUC and will do so again before the current mandate expires on 31 December 2008. The UK will play an active part in these discussions and will give due consideration to any proposed changes.

Secondary information