John Bruton
Question:87 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has considered the calls by GOAL for the cutting of aid to Uganda following a massacre there. [9962/03]
Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.
It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to recent ethnic clashes in the Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. There have been clashes between the Hema and Lendu tribes in this region of the DRC on many occasions in the past. The countries neighbouring the region in question, Uganda and Rwanda, have deployed troops within the DRC, justifying this with reference to their own security. As part of a comprehensive peace settlement, Rwanda has withdrawn its troops and Uganda is committed to completing its withdrawal by 24 April. The focus is now on finding a basis to resolve, or at least contain, the underlying ethnic divisions.
On 3 April, MONUC, the United Nations mission to the DRC, discovered the remains of up to one thousand members of the Hema apparently victims of a tribal massacre. MONUC has initiated an investigation. Our development co-operation programme in Uganda is heavily focused on poverty reduction in all its dimensions. We maintain a critical dialogue with the Ugandan authorities on a wide range of issues, both internal to Uganda and relating to the wider Great Lakes region. Through this dialogue, and our development programme, we believe we are in a position to help influence positive change. Significant changes have already been made in Uganda in terms of poverty reduction, and we believe our programme has helped to foster this process. Against the background of the programme's strong poverty focus, and the critical dialogue which we maintain with the Ugandan authorities on all issues, including ethnic clashes in the DRC, a reduction of our aid to Uganda would not be warranted.
Question No. 88 answered with Question No. 69.
Question No. 89 answered with Question No. 74.