Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has experienced periodic conflict over many decades, with increasing insecurity and violence in eastern DRC.

Elections were held in DRC in December 2023, in the context of a ceasefire that largely held, and President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi was re-elected. However, tensions between the DRC and Rwanda have remained at a high level. The conflict has again intensified in recent weeks in eastern DRC, and has worsened an already serious humanitarian situation.

Ireland and our EU partners have expressed our serious concern at these developments, and the high level of regional tension.

Ireland worked closely with our EU partners on the development of a new EU strategy for the wider Great Lakes region, which was adopted in 2023, with a particular focus on the eastern provinces of the DRC. We fully support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries in the region and condemn any support to local or foreign armed groups. Ireland has also emphasised the importance of the engagement of national and regional organisations in promoting peace and stability. We note the contribution by Angola and Kenya to advancing a peaceful resolution, along with the recent deployment by the Southern African Development Community of a multinational force to eastern DRC.

Almost 27 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in DRC. There are an estimated 6.9 million people internally displaced, while over a million refugees from the DRC are in neighbouring countries. The DRC itself hosts more than half a million refugees.

Ireland directly provided over €8 million in assistance in 2023 in response to the situation in DRC. Over €4.6 million was allocated to long-term development and chronic humanitarian crisis programmes under Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership Programme. Five partners (Christian Aid Ireland, Concern Worldwide, Oxfam Ireland, Trócaire and World Vision Ireland) are operating in DRC. In addition, we provided €3.8 million to UNICEF to address child malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa,, earmarked for DRC.

Following recent flooding in DRC, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) provided $3.6 million in immediate assistance. Ireland provided €14.5 million to the CERF in 2023. In 2023 the EU provided almost €92 million in humanitarian funding to address the needs of the most vulnerable people in the DRC.

We will continue to work with EU and other partners to promote peace and stability and address humanitarian need in DRC.