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Written question asked by Lord Hylton (Crossbench) on Tuesday, 30 January 2018, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 13 February 2018. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Tuesday, 13 February 2018 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Politics and Government

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo regarding President Kabila remaining in office more than a year after the expiration of his constitutional term; and whether they have any plans to call for an independent inquiry into the deaths and injuries arising out of the peaceful anti-Kabila protests on 31 December 2017.

Answer

The former Minister for Africa, Rory Stewart MP, raised the importance of timely elections with President Kabila when he visited Kinshasa in November. The British Government has repeatedly called for President Kabila to honour both the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Constitution and the 31 December agreement and conduct a peaceful transfer of power in DRC via credible elections. The UK, alongside regional and international partners, will continue to press the DRC authorities to adhere to their electoral commitment.

In a statement on 3 January, following the deaths of protestors on 31 December 2017, we called on the government to investigate and hold accountable security force members who fired on civilians or ordered the use of lethal force.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL5231
Session
2017-19
Subjects
Death Demonstrations Injuries Politics and government Democratic Republic of the Congo
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk