Written question asked by Keith Simpson (Conservative) on Monday, 11 May 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 13 May 2009. It was answered by Baroness Merron (Labour) on Friday, 15 May 2009 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Security

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the security situation in South Kivu; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Over the last month the security situation in South Kivu has remained tense. Joint operations by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) military and UN peacekeepers against the Rwandan Hutu Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR) militia have begun. For the time being, the FDLR continues to pose a serious threat to the civilian population in South Kivu, and to commit atrocities in eastern DRC.I welcome the effort to apply pressure to the FDLR. We are providing support to help FDLR fighters who wish to leave the organisation to do so. Former members of other militias in South Kivu are entering into a process of integration into the DRC army.

Secondary information