The Bishop of Durham received the following written answer on 8th December 2022:
The Lord Bishop of Durham asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and relations between that country and Rwanda; and what steps, if any, they are taking to de-escalate that conflict.
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Con): The UK condemns the escalation in fighting in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Foreign Secretary has raised our concerns with both the President of DRC and the Foreign Minister of Rwanda; The Minister for Africa also recently spoke to the Rwandan Foreign Minister. We welcome agreement on a ceasefire as agreed at the Luanda summit in Angola on 23 November. It is vital that all parties implement it to secure a real de-escalation on the ground in Eastern DRC. We call on all sides to do everything they can to ensure armed groups respect the terms of the ceasefire and engage with the regional political processes, in order that an enduring political solution can be found.
The UK remains committed to supporting efforts to build stability and reduce violence in the country, including through the UN Peacekeeping Mission, MONUSCO, which plays a vital role in protection of civilians and supporting the government to tackle violence and instability. The UK is also a major humanitarian donor to DRC. In November, the pooled SMART fund, supported by the UK, announced £300,000 of additional funding to support people displaced by the recent violence in North Kivu, including with shelter and food security.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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