Letter to the Foreign Secretary regarding pre-election violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Dear Foreign Secretary,

Re: Urgent situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo

We are writing to you to express our deep concern at the mounting instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo, following the Presidential elections on Monday 28^th November 2011. As you will be aware, scores of Congolese civilians have already been killed in election-related violence, including by the Presidential Guard. There have also been verified reports of fraud and logistical breakdown. A preliminary, unverified and partial release of the result has done nothing whatsoever to defuse panic.

We support the United Kingdom’s commitment to helping the people of the DRC, which was recently ranked the least developed country in the world, and the second worst place to live as a woman. With UK taxpayers set to spend almost £800 million in aid to the DRC over the course of this Parliament, we see this election as essential to ensuring the money is spent appropriately - on building infrastructure and furthering development.

In order to curtail the risk of greater bloodshed, we are asking you to condemn violence and demand greater transparency from the Congolese election commission (CENI), ahead of tonight’s final declaration. As tensions mount, some thousands of people are fleeing across the border into neighbouring Congo-Brazzaville, fearing intensification of post-election violence or even a reversion to civil war, once the final result is announced. This heightens the risk of destabilization in Central Africa - a region of critical importance to global security.

Timing matters. We should try to reduce the risks of high loss of life. As Foreign Secretary, we have confidence that you will send a clear message now that the UK urges greater transparency from the Congolese authorities, and calls on all sides to diffuse violence.

Sincerely,

• Fiona Bruce MP, Conservative (Conservative Party Human Rights Commissioner)
• Lord David Alton, Independent Crossbench (Expert in Human Rights in developing countries)
• Martin Horwood MP, Liberal Democrat, (Chair of the Liberal Democrat parliamentary committee on international affairs)
• Sir Peter Bottomley MP, Conservative, (Chairman, All-Party United Nations Group)
• Don Foster MP, Liberal Democrat, (visited DRC with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy earlier this autumn)