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 South Sudan on (a) the role of the UN Mission in that country and (b) measures to protect civil society in that country.

We regularly urge the Government of South Sudan, including the Foreign Minister, to allow UNMISS effectively to fulfil its mandate across the country. This includes allowing freedom of movement, and expediting the deployment of the UN Regional Protection Force. Most recently the FCO Africa Director lobbied the First Vice President on 24 November. Civil society in South Sudan is increasingly constrained by the Government, security forces and other groups. We are concerned about the impact of the NGO law which has reduced their space to operate. The UK has consistently spoken out in support of civil society and lobbied the Government on this issue.