GOAL chief says Uganda using Irish aid to stoke war in Congo
GOAL Director, John O'Shea, said five million had died in fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), making it the bloodiest conflict since the Second World War.
The response of the international community has been "feeble and non-existent," while Ireland was continuing to provide funds to Uganda as part of the Ireland Aid programme.
"Ireland continues to give aid money to a corrupt and brutal regime that is up to its neck in the rape of the DRC," said Mr O'Shea, claiming that Uganda can use the support to sustain its warring activities.
Mr O'Shea claimed that a departmental official had admitted last week that the Ugandans were arming both factions in one region where 50,000 had been slaughtered in less than a month.
"I am ashamed of my Government in this regard," he said.
The GOAL administrator was supported in his call for a cut-off of Irish aid by Senator David Norris at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs. Senator Norris, who was born in the Congo, said it was unsupportable to continue giving money to governments that were corrupt.
Former Minister of State with responsibility for overseas development aid, Liz O'Donnell, said people could be proud of Ireland's commitment to, and solidarity with, Africa.
She said Ireland had saved millions of lives in Uganda through health programmes. The committee is to invite Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen to appear before it on the issue.
- Senan Molony Political Correspondent
