Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his French counterpart on the escalating political situation in Niger.

The UK condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to undermine democracy, peace, and stability in Niger. We continue to stand by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and their efforts to pursue all means to bring about a peaceful resolution. We are also engaging with partners including the French. The Foreign Secretary spoke to his counterpart, the French Foreign Secretary, Catherine Colonna, in August, and Ministers and officials are in continued discussions with our French counterparts in relation to the political situation in Niger and the wider region. We liaised effectively over the voluntary departures of 14 UK nationals from Niger last month with the help of the French who organised evacuation flights.