Deaths and Displacements in Congo: UK says it is “deeply concerned” and “saddened that violence has displaced over 100,000 this year, and that armed groups continue to forcibly recruit civilians.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL14904):

Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the annual UK financial contribution to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCU); and what assessment they have made of the statement received by Aid to the Church in Need from members of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s National Episcopal Conference of the Congo on 13 April that attacks on civilians are occurring “a few metres” from MONUSCU troops. (HL14904)

Tabled on: 14 April 2021

This question was grouped with the following question(s) for answer:

1. To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the statement received by Aid to the Church in Need from members of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s National Episcopal Conference of the Congo that alleged attacks on civilians by the Allied Democratic Forces in North Kivu and Ituri have led to (1) the displacement of three million civilians, (2) deaths, and (3) the forced conversion of civilians to Islam. (HL14905)
   Tabled on: 14 April 2021

Answer:
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon:

The UK is deeply concerned about violence against civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including in North Kivu and Ituri. Last week the British Embassy Kinshasa issued a joint statement with international partners condemning the attacks perpetrated by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in Beni, North Kivu. We are saddened that violence has displaced over 100,000 this year, and that armed groups continue to forcibly recruit civilians.

The UK is committed to building stability in eastern DRC, reducing violence, and providing support to victims through our humanitarian and stability programmes. In 2020/21 we provided approximately £52 million and three military staff officers to support the UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO. We are committed to ensuring that MONUSCO effectively protects civilians and tackles the ADF. That is why we supported mandating MONUSCO to reinforce its troops in Beni during the Mission’s last mandate renewal. We continue to urge the DRC Government and the UN to work together to better protect civilians. The Minister for Africa discussed this with President Tshisekedi during his visit to DRC in November 2020 and again during a telephone call in March this year.

Date and time of answer: 28 Apr 2021 at 17:47.