Written question asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 March 2010.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government following reports of recent attempts by North Korea to sell weapons and military equipment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, what is their assessment of the effectiveness of the United Nations sanctions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and what steps they will take to prevent the flow of arms into areas of conflict.

Answer: There is no embargo against the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) purchasing arms. The UN Group of Experts report on the DRC sanctions regime stated that the embargo against supplying arms to non-state armed groups was being breached. The UN Organization Mission to the DRC (MONUC) is empowered by UN Security Council Resolution 1533 to seize any arms which may end up in the hands of militia groups. We work with the international community to support MONUC and build the capacity of the DRC state and military to police the embargo. The UK will not, and has not, issued any strategic export licences that would be in breach of the UN arms embargo and the Government's international commitments.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 2538; 718 c156-7WA
Session: 2009-10
Subjects: Armed conflict Arms trade Sanctions Democratic Republic of the Congo
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk