Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what presence his Department has in Burkina Faso; and what steps his Department is taking to support a peaceful transition of presidential power in Burkina Faso in 2015.

The UK has an Honorary Consul in Burkina Faso who provides basic consular assistance to British Nationals as and when required. Our High Commissioner to Ghana is currently awaiting accreditation as non-resident Ambassador to Burkina Faso. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for International Development visited Burkina Faso in February 2014.

The UK supports the democratic process in Burkina Faso and wishes to see peaceful and constitutional elections in 2015, in order to secure Burkina Faso’s own stability and that of the region. We are working with partners on the ground, including the European Union, to make clear to the Government of Burkina Faso international concern about possible attempts to amend the constitution ahead of the elections.