Asked by: Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the security, political and human rights situations in Burundi ahead of the forthcoming general elections planned for May and June.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Since the end of the civil war in 2005, Burundi has made limited progress towards becoming a more stable democracy. Burundi remains a fragile post-conflict country, with a government that consistently uses the media and justice system to repress political opposition. There have been increasing reports of politically motivated violence, including extrajudicial killings. This political violence threatens regional stability, and could lead to population displacement into Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Burundi was included as a case study on political violence in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Human Rights and Democracy Report 2014.
We continue to use our influence in the UN and in the EU to keep Burundi on the international community’s agenda. We believe that maintaining the spirit of the Arusha peace accords is vital: compromise, reconciliation and dialogue are essential if we are to have an electoral process which is inclusive, peaceful and transparent.
Asked by: Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will support the organisation of a European Union Electoral Observation Mission in Burundi ahead of and during the general elections of May and June.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The EU will deploy an electoral observation mission from April 2015. The EU's support for the electoral process, through both the presence of this observation mission and the provision of financial assistance, is contingent on the electoral process being inclusive, transparent, and open to all political parties and actors in a fair manner. The UK supports this approach.
Asked by: Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Burundi in relation to (1) the prosecution of members of the Movement for Solidarity and Democracy following protests last year, and (2) the human rights of opposition group members there.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We continue to raise our concerns about the diminishing political space and use of political violence during regular exchanges with the Burundian government. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge), did so during a meeting with the Burundian Foreign Minister in September 2014. We have also joined EU partners in expressing our concerns publicly, most recently in the form of March EU Council Conclusions on Burundi. We were involved in the successful campaigns for the release of imprisoned activists such as Pierre Claver Mbonimpa and Bob Rugurika. Officials met Mbonimpa in his offices shortly after his release in October 2014. Our Ambassador to Burundi visited Rugurika in prison on 12 February 2015. Both meetings were publicised on social media channels to demonstrate our support for the activists and their work.
Asked by: Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent discussions their representatives have had with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and with President Kabila in relation to respecting the current constitutional presidential term limits.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Successful elections and the peaceful transition of power in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are important for the country’s longer-term development and stability. Officials at our Embassy in Kinshasa have consistently raised the importance of respect for the constitution with the Government of the DRC and with President Kabila himself. They will continue to do so.
A revised electoral law, passed on 25 January by the DRC’s Parliament, was welcomed in a Foreign and Commonwealth Office press statement of 26 January. This, and the subsequent comprehensive electoral calendar published by the DRC’s Independent Electoral Reform Commission on 12 February, represent an important step towards elections which are credible, inclusive and peaceful, and which respect the will of the Congolese people, the country’s constitution and the African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.
Asked by: Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the new Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Efforts to stabilise the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) require a comprehensive disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programme aimed at successfully returning those combatants not suspected of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity or abuses of human rights, into a peaceful civilian life. It is crucial that the DDR programme is responsive to the needs of the Congolese people while guaranteeing the rights and welfare of those ex-combatants admitted to the programme. The Government of the DRC presented its DDR plan to international partners in June 2014. In October it announced that it would begin implementation using Government of the DRC and UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) funds. However, we have not yet seen any meaningful action on the ground and have noted with concern that a number of people transported to a military camp to await DDR have died from apparent disease and malnutrition. Alongside the UN and other members of the international community, we have requested the Government of the DRC take immediate action to protect the rights of those awaiting DDR in military camps. Whilst we are committed to working with the Government of the DRC on helping former combatants reintegrate into civilian life, we have made clear that our financial support is dependent on there being strong monitoring arrangements in place and that the needs and rights of all stakeholders are respected.
Asked by: Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in regard to recent protests in Kinshasa and in the eastern provinces of that country.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
I refer the noble Lord to my answer of 23 February to the noble Lord Chidgey (HL4967).
Officials continue to raise the ongoing detention of protestors with senior members of the Congolese government.
Asked by: Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in relation to the alleged human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, committed by national forces during Operation Likofi.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Officials have raised the issue of human rights violations during Operation Likofi with senior members of the Congolese government on a number of occasions since late 2013. This includes meetings with the Minister of Interior, his successor, the Vice Prime Minister for Interior and Security and the Chief of the National Police. In these meetings we called for a robust investigation into the allegations.
As such an investigation had not started, the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Ms Greening), took the decision in February to terminate their Security Sector Accountability and Police Reform programme, and informed the Congolese government accordingly.
Asked by: Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with regard to recent protests in Kinshasa and in the eastern provinces of that country.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
I refer the noble Lord to my previous response of 12 February (HL4593). During the recent period of unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) officials at our Embassy in Kinshasa were in regular contact with the DRC authorities, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) issued a press statement on 20 January urging calm and restraint and calling on the DRC government and Parliament to listen to the concerns of protesters.
Our Ambassador was in contact with the Government of DRC at the highest levels and with opposition politicians throughout the protests. He urged for a consensus on electoral reform to be built that would help to forge the path to free, fair and peaceful elections in 2016. On 25 January a revised electoral law was passed, and on 26 January an FCO press statement welcomed the revised electoral law which sought to address some of the protestors’ concerns. We are pleased that calls for an end to violence were heeded.
Asked by: Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with regard to the planned closures of the camps for internally displaced persons in the eastern province of North-Kivu, in particular in the light of the recent launch of military operations against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda rebel group.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains challenging, and at times dangerous, for civilians.
On 30 January the Government of the DRC announced that military action had begun against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), but it is our assessment that comprehensive operations are yet to fully commence. Officials at our Embassy in Kinshasa have reiterated to the Government of the DRC that international expectations remain high: the threat posed by the FDLR to civilians and to the security and stability of the region must be tackled.
The Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and the UN Organization Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) must ensure that efforts to minimise the impact on civilians remain forefront in planning for military operations against armed groups. We are also working closely with the humanitarian community and MONUSCO to minimise the risk to civilians during forthcoming operations. This includes liaising with and providing financial support for organisations working to develop and finalise contingency plans to manage any potential humanitarian impact.
Asked by: Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assurances they have received from the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the DRC with regard to the protection of civilians in relation to the launch of military operations against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda rebel group.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains challenging, and at times dangerous, for civilians.
On 30 January the Government of the DRC announced that military action had begun against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), but it is our assessment that comprehensive operations are yet to fully commence. Officials at our Embassy in Kinshasa have reiterated to the Government of the DRC that international expectations remain high: the threat posed by the FDLR to civilians and to the security and stability of the region must be tackled.
The Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and the UN Organization Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) must ensure that efforts to minimise the impact on civilians remain forefront in planning for military operations against armed groups. We are also working closely with the humanitarian community and MONUSCO to minimise the risk to civilians during forthcoming operations. This includes liaising with and providing financial support for organisations working to develop and finalise contingency plans to manage any potential humanitarian impact.