Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to fulfil its role as a penholder on Darfur in the UN Security Council.

We welcome the Security Council's unanimous adoption of UK-drafted Resolution 2429 on 13 July which extended the UN/AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)'s mandate for a further year. As pen-holder for UNAMID in the Security Council, the UK engaged in extensive negotiations to secure an appropriate mandate for UNAMID in light of the evolving context in Darfur, including leading a visit to Darfur in May to get a first-hand perspective of the situation on the ground. The UK is committed to ensuring that the Mission is adequately resourced to fulfil its mandate and fully supports Resolution 2429 strong focus on ensuring a sustainable transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding and preventing a relapse into conflict.