Grant Aid for the Program for Support of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration of Ex-Combatants in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

October 31, 2003

The Government of Japan has decided to extend, through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a grant aid for conflict prevention and peace building of 408 million yen for the Program for Support of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration of Ex-Combatants in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Notes to this effect were exchanged on October 31 (Fri) in Kinshasa between Mr. Hiromi Okamoto, Japanese Chargé d'Affaires ad interim to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mr. Herbert P. M'cleod, Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country rich in such natural resources as cobalt, diamonds and copper, an uprising staged by anti-government forces in 1998 erupted into a civil war in the eastern part of the country, developing into an international conflict involving neighboring countries. After a ceasefire agreement, the Pretoria Comprehensive Agreement on establishing a transitional government was reached in December 2002. There are, however, still some 150,000 soldiers (including anti-government forces) in the country, causing concern about the restoration and maintenance of order. Under such circumstances, UNDP formulated the Program and has requested the Government of Japan to provide grant assistance for the Program.
It is expected that the Program will promote the economic and social reintegration of ex-combatants into local communities, restore and keep order, and stabilize society in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Japan pledged to extend this grant assistance as part of its cooperation for Africa at the Third Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD III) recently held in Tokyo. This assistance is related to Consolidation of Peace, one of the pillars of Japan's policy toward Africa.

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