Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
110. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what engagement his Department has had at bilateral and multilateral level regarding the forced displacement of over six million people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55417/23]
View answerThe Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has experienced periodic conflict over many decades, with an increase in violence in the East of the country in recent months.
The conflict is driven by a number of factors, including competing attempts by armed groups to control the rich mineral resources of the region. Ireland has stressed the importance of regional efforts to address a situation that, according to the International Organisation for Migration, has resulted in 6.9 million internally displaced persons.
We worked closely with our EU partners on the development of a new EU strategy for the wider Great Lakes region that was adopted earlier this year, with a particular focus on the eastern provinces of the DRC. Ireland continues to work closely with EU partners on implementing a common approach. We have also contributed to agreement on the sanctions regime in respect of DRC with EU restrictive measures on individuals for acts that constitute serious human rights violations and abuses and for sustaining the armed conflict. The listings include individuals in non-state armed groups in the Eastern and North Eastern part of the country, the Congolese Armed Forces and the Rwanda Defence Force.
Ireland fully supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries in the region and condemns any support to local or external armed groups. Ireland has also emphasised the importance of the engagement of national and regional organisations in promoting peace and stability. We welcome the efforts of the East African Community Heads of State Conclave, including the Nairobi peace process, as well as the contribution by Angola and Kenya to advancing a peaceful resolution. We will continue to highlight the ongoing implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region, and encourage implementation of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region Roadmap. We welcome the renewed calls in the region for a ceasefire, including this month by the leaders of the Southern African Development Community.
Almost 27 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in DRC. In addition to the internally displaced, over a million refugees from the DRC are in neighbouring countries. Given the instability in the region, the DRC itself hosts more than half a million refugees.
Ireland is providing over €8 million this year in response to the situation in DRC, including over €4.6 million for programmes by Irish NGO. In addition, some €3.8 million of Irish Aid funding to UNICEF to address child malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa is earmarked for DRC.
This year, the EU will provide almost €92 million in humanitarian funding to address the needs of the most vulnerable people in the DRC.
