Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of alleged human rights violations against civilians by the security forces in Burkina Faso during their efforts to tackle Jihadist insurgents.

The UK is concerned about alleged human rights abuses and violations by both armed terrorist groups and security forces in Burkina Faso. The protection of civilians must be at the forefront of efforts to combat insurgency and insecurity, including to build trust between local communities and the security forces.

We have raised our concerns about alleged attacks by security forces on civilians directly with the President during the recent visit of the UN Security Council to Burkina Faso; urged his government to ensure its security forces comply with international standards; and called for an investigation to ensure those found responsible are held accountable. The UK is also supporting UN agencies and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide basic assistance and protection for people affected by conflict and insecurity.