Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The UK is deeply concerned by the continuing violence in many parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We frequently raise the issue with the Government of DRC who are ultimately responsible for providing security for their citizens. We also recognise the need for the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) to deliver more, especially since its mandate was renewed in March. We have pushed hard in the UN Security Council for the protection of civilians to be the mission’s first priority. A growing body of evidence implicates elements of the Congolese security services in killings and other human rights violations. We have made clear that those who commit such violations, will face consequences for their actions. EU sanctions are currently being considered.