Written question asked by Keith Simpson (Conservative) on Monday, 18 May 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 20 May 2009. It was answered by Baroness Merron (Labour) on Monday, 1 June 2009 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Natural Resources

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on proposed further investigations by the UN Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of Congo of the exploitation of natural resources to finance armed groups in that country.

Answer: We strongly support the continued work of the UN Group of Experts. The arms embargo and sanctions regime in place in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are a necessary part of the effort to isolate illegal armed groups, limit the support they receive and reduce the threat they pose to civilians in DRC. The work of the Group of Experts is essential to monitor compliance with the terms of the embargo. Individuals and entities who support illegal militias in eastern DRC through illicit trade in natural resources may now be made subject to sanctions. It is appropriate that the UN Group of Experts should devote some of their effort to investigating such cases.

Secondary information