Lord Collins of Highbury, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL4617):
Question:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with counterparts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda over the seizure of Goma by M23 militia, and what assessment they have made of the security, humanitarian and human rights implications. (HL4617)
Tabled on: 03 February 2025
Answer:
Lord Collins of Highbury:
The Foreign Secretary spoke to President Kagame to urge Rwanda to de-escalate this conflict and return to negotiations. We made clear that an attack on Goma would provoke a strong response from the international community. The Foreign Secretary spoke with President Tshisekedi to express his deep concern about M23 and the Rwandan Defence Force’s advances. I have spoken to the Rwandan Foreign Minister and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Foreign Minister to urge both countries to return to the negotiating table. The UK condemns the occupation of Goma and other territories in eastern DRC by M23 and Rwandan Defence Forces as an unacceptable breach of DRC’s sovereignty and the United Nations Charter, which poses a fundamental risk to regional stability. The humanitarian situation is now critical, with hundreds of thousands of people re-displaced, acute food insecurity and an increased risk of violence against civilians, especially women and girls. More than 800,000 people in the area who were prioritised for support may no longer receive vital food and nutritional assistance.
Date and time of answer: 10 Feb 2025 at 14:32.
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Lord Collins of Highbury, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL4581):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what discussions they have held with the International Criminal Court regarding its stalled investigation into alleged atrocity crimes in Nigeria. (HL4581)
Tabled on: 30 January 2025
Answer:
Lord Collins of Highbury:
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an impartial, professional and independent court. It is a court of last resort, which is complementary to national legal systems, undertaking investigations only when national authorities are unable or unwilling to do so. In 2024 , the ICC Deputy Prosecutor visited Nigeria and stressed that the ICC would move forward with an investigation if the Nigerian authorities did not bridge existing impunity gaps. The UK Government is committed to supporting the ICC internationally and it is for the ICC Prosecutor to determine the focus of his investigations in accordance with his mandate. It is important that all criminal proceedings are taken forward impartially and independently by the Court under the framework of the Rome Statute. The UK Government respects the independence of the Court.
Date and time of answer: 10 Feb 2025 at 13:57.
