To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the plans of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to expel the Lord’s Resistance Army from the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo; what assessment he has made of such plans; and if he will make a statement. (179484)

The Governments of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi signed an agreement to co-operate on the threat of ‘negative forces’ in September 2007. I welcome this as a sign that illegal armed groups will not be allowed to operate in the region. The Lord’s Resistance Army is engaged in a process of peace talks with the Government of Uganda, which we support. I have received no reports to suggest that the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo will intervene, while negotiations between the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army continue.