Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to encourage the Transitional Military Council in Sudan to resume negotiations with protesters in that country.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
On 3 June, the Foreign Secretary condemned the attack on protestors by Sudanese security forces, and held the Transitional Military Council (TMC) fully responsible. We also expressed serious concern over TMC's announcement that it would cease negotiations and called for an agreed transfer of power to a civilian-led government. Our Embassy in Khartoum has called on the TMC to take the steps needed to improve the situation in Sudan, including the release of all political detainees.
The TMC now need to take appropriate steps to provide confidence for protestors and create the conditions necessary for the resumption of dialogue, which includes an investigation into the 3 June attack and Freedom of Media and blockages to the internet ceasing, and free media being allowed. We have said that the TMC must re-engage in the political process with the protestors and opposition to ensure an agreed transfer of power to a civilian-led authority, as demanded by the Sudanese people, in a swift, orderly and peaceful manner. The UK will continue to engage with all sides to support a settlement that works for all Sudanese people.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of ethnic tension in Mali.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
I am deeply concerned by the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Mali, and particularly the recent and continuing violence between communities in the central Mopti region, which has included attacks on children and civilians. I have and will continue to call for perpetrators to be brought to justice and for the cycle of violence to end. It is essential that the Government of Mali puts in place and implements a comprehensive strategy to address the insecurity and the lack of dialogue between communities in conflict. The UK is increasing support to help address the complex challenges faced by Mali, including developing programmes to address the long-term drivers of instability and conflict in the region.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the UN to prioritise the protection of (a) people with disabilities and (b) older people in conflict zones.
Answered by Mark Field
The British Government has been a leader in developing policies and practical action to promote the Protection of Civilians within the UN system. The Government is updating its Protection of Civilians Strategy to ensure that it is fit for purpose in the context of modern conflict, and comprehensive in addressing the situation of children and other particularly vulnerable people such as people with disabilities and older people in conflict zones. As part of that commitment the Government is working with the Polish Government to introduce a new UN Security Council Resolution specifically addressing the needs of the disabled in armed conflict within the broader protection of civilians resolutions that have already been agreed. The Government expects that Resolution to be passed before the end of June 2019.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Sudan; and what diplomatic steps the Government is taking to encourage the country’s military leaders to end the violence against protesters.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
As we made clear alongside Troika partners (US and Norway) on 4 June, we condemn the violent attacks by Sudanese security forces against peaceful protestors in Sudan last week, which left many civilians dead or injured. The Foreign Secretary reiterated this in his statement on 6 June, which also called for the full restoration of the internet and freedom of the media. The UK has called for the human rights of all Sudanese people to be respected and for the resumption of the political process with the protestors and the opposition, and an agreed transfer of power to a civilian-led government, as demanded by the Sudanese people, in a swift, orderly and peaceful manner. On 6 June, I summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to express the grave concerns of the United Kingdom at the use of violence against civilians by the Sudanese authorities.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Kashmir.
Answered by Mark Field
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer of 11 June 2019 (PQ 259251).
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the death of Zakir Musa, what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Kashmir.
Answered by Mark Field
We are aware of reports that last month Indian security forces killed Zakir Musa, the Chief of the Al Qaeda-affiliated Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH) group, during a counter-insurgency operation in Kashmir’s Pulwama district and that a number of protests followed. We continue to monitor the security situation in Kashmir and we keep our travel advice under review. We are concerned by levels of firing and shelling between Indian and Pakistani troops in Kashmir and urge both sides to exercise restraint and improve channels of communication. We welcome the exchanges between Prime Minister Khan and Prime Minister Modi following Prime Minister Modi’s re-election, and we encourage India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue and find lasting, diplomatic solutions to maintain regional stability.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the presence of the Islamic State for West Africa Province in the north-east of Nigeria.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
We are deeply concerned by the increase in Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) activity in North Eastern Nigeria. Together with international partners, we are committed to supporting Nigeria and its neighbours in tackling threats to regional stability by ISWA and Boko Haram. Humanitarian operations have been placed under pressure and some suspended, cutting off urgently needed support for up to 120,000 people. We are working with international partners to support contingency planning to protect aid workers, providing strategic military advice and training, and continue to review options for additional UK assistance.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is providing to the Nigerian Government to help tackle the farmer-herder conflict in the middle belt of that country.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
We are concerned about growing levels of intercommunal violence between farming and herder communities in Nigeria, and regularly raise these concerns with the Nigerian Government at the highest levels. The Foreign Secretary met with Nigerian faith leaders, both Muslim and Christian during his recent visit to Nigeria, to discuss how the UK can support their work to promote interfaith relationships and long-term peace. Our High Commission in Abuja is engaging closely with international partners, the Nigerian Government, faith and community leaders, state governments and the National Economic Council to develop measures which address the underlying causes of the conflict, including the recently-announced bi-partisan National Livestock Transformation Plan.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the Gedeo-Guji dispute in Ethiopia and what support his Department is providing to the Ethiopian Government.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The Government is concerned about the violence and resultant displacement of people in a number of regions of Ethiopia. We are further concerned by the conditions of recent returns, including from Gedeo to Guji zones. Conflict and displacement present a real risk to the welcome reforms that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed continues to institute.
I raised our concerns and offered assistance in my visits of October 2018 and March 2019. Our Ambassador and senior officials have raised concerns with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Peace. DFID is currently supporting humanitarian agencies to respond to the needs of IDPs and host communities affected by this crisis, including through support to Ethiopia's humanitarian pooled fund.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of media freedom in Sudan, following Al-Jazeera being banned from the country.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The UK is deeply concerned at restrictions of the media and reports of international journalist restrictions following reports of Al-Jazeera being closed down on 31 May. Freedom of the press is vital to Sudan's future. The Foreign Secretary's priority international campaign this year is working to ensure that media freedom remains in the international spotlight as a human rights issue.