Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made representations to the Eritrean Government on reports that several protestors were killed by security services in Asmara on 31 October 2017.

I am aware of reports that there were deaths and injuries amongst protestors in Asmara on 31 October. Our Embassy in Asmara, along with international partners, are monitoring the situation closely but have been unable to verify reports of deaths. Officials from the Embassy made representations to Eritrean authorities with regards to one British dual-national who was arrested following the protest, who has since been released. Foreign and Commonwealth Officials also raised the importance of the right to peaceful protest in a meeting with the Eritrean Ambassador in London on 8 November.