Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 1

Written Answers. - Congolese Conflict.

John Bruton

Question:

138 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the initiatives, if any, Ireland has taken with the Ugandan authorities in regard to the ethnic violence resulting in 8,000 deaths among the Bahema people in a portion of the Congo occupied by Ugandan forces; and, if so, the results of his representations in the matter. [3615/00]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The Government is aware of an outbreak of ethnic violence in the north-east region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an area under the control of the Ugandan People's Defence Force, between the Bahema and the Balendu people and of reports of more than 10,000 dead. Ireland, with its EU partners, raised its concerns about this situation with the Government of Uganda earlier this month. The Ugandan Government indicated that it shared the concerns about the conflict, which may have arisen over land issues, and stated that extra troops had been sent to the area to try to calm the situation. The commitment of the Ugandan Government to the Lusaka Accords was reaffirmed.

The Government remains deeply concerned at the situation in the Great Lakes region and at the slow pace of implementation of the Lusaka Accords, signed in July 1999 by the Governments of the six countries involved in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Uganda, Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Two rebel groups, the MLC, Movement for the Liberation of Congo, and the RCD, Congolese Rally for Democracy, signed the ceasefire agreement in August. We continue to underline our readiness to provide full political, diplomatic and resource support for the implementation of the agreement, which offers a realistic prospect of lasting peace and security in the region, and have pledged financial assistance to the process, provided that the parties show the necessary political will to implement the agreement.

During his visit to Uganda last November, my predecessor, Deputy Andrews, had detailed discussions with President Museveni regarding the situation in the region and reiterated Ireland's support for the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo.