Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Mozambique on the detention of journalist Amade Abubacar.

Officials at our High Commission in Maputo have raised the issue of the detention of Amade Abubacar with Mozambican officials at national and local level. Our High Commissioner to Maputo also raised the issue with the provincial government in Cabo Delgado Province on 17 January.

Mr Abubacar was initially held in military detention. However, following enquiries by officials, Mr Abubacar has been formally charged and moved into custody in a civilian prison. We continue to follow his case closely.

The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of the press and the protection of journalists.