Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the (a) maintenance of human rights and (b) organisation of free and fair elections in that country.

The British Government is deeply concerned about the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Following the violent clampdown on protestors on 31 December and 21 January, the UK released statements condemning the violence and calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

We have called upon the DRC government, as a UN Human Rights Council member, to demonstrate its commitment to the highest human rights standards and take decisive action against human rights abuses and violations.

The UK is supporting a resolution at the Human Rights Council in July 2018 extending the mandate of an international investigation into the violence in the Kasai regions.

The UK regularly raises with the Government of DRC the need to hold elections in December 2018 in accordance with the DRC constitution.

I saw first-hand the impact of the conflict and insecurity upon the Congolese population when I visited in April. During my visit I called for the Government of DRC to hold free and fair elections in December 2018.