To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the political situation in the Great Lakes region of Africa. (319454)

Levels of conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have dropped since late 2008, and improved relations between the DRC and Rwandan Governments have contributed to a stabilisation of the regional situation. However, violence, human rights abuses and displacement remain prevalent in eastern DRC in particular. The Government continue to work closely with the Governments in the region, as well as the UN and partners in the international community, to address these challenges.