Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict

Mr. Sanders
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to (a) encourage the ending of links between the Rwandan authorities and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda and (b) seek to ensure that the sanctions imposed by the United Nations in respect of the Democratic Republic of Congo are maintained.

Mr. Ivan Lewis
The Rwandan authorities are not linked to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). The FDLR is an illegal militia group mainly comprising ex-genocidaires from the previous Rwandan regime. We welcome the rapprochement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and the co-operation between the two countries in tackling the FDLR.

We take our obligations under sanctions very seriously and will not hesitate to support sanctions against any person or company against whom there is sufficient evidence.