Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Government of the Central African Republic on the recent murder of a pastor with the Eglise du Christ en Centrafrique and destruction of his church's property.

We were deeply concerned to hear about the murder of Pastor Jean-Paul Sankagui; faith leaders play an important role in bringing reconciliation, diffusing tensions and promoting social cohesion in the Central African Republic (CAR).

We remain concerned by the serious violence which has continued throughout CAR since September 2016, leaving thousands displaced and hundreds killed. Our non-resident Ambassador met President Touadera in Bangui earlier this month where he raised the security situation and the destabilising effect armed groups are having on the country.

We will continue to raise our concerns about the security situation, including incidences such as the murder of Pastor Sankagui, in our contacts with the CAR Government. We will also continue to work with and through our international partners, such as the UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA) and the EU Training Mission (EUFOR CAR), to bring stability to CAR.