Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Malian counterpart on the Malian military capturing Bah Ndaw and Moctar Ouane.

I have condemned the coup in Mali and called for the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all those detained, including the former President and Prime Minister who remain under house arrest. The UK has made clear that any attempt to impose a change of leadership by force, including through forced resignations, is unacceptable. The British Ambassador to Mali met the former Prime Minister Moctar Ouane after he was released from detention. The UK has not engaged with the leadership in place since the coup. I made clear that the UK stands ready to support ECOWAS efforts to monitor progress towards democratic, constitutional rule within the agreed timeframe, and with full respect for the conditions set out by ECOWAS. The UK's Sahel Envoy has already been speaking to like-minded counterparts to understand how best to coordinate international support. I have also reiterated the importance of renewed commitment to the broader priorities set out by the former transitional government, including efforts to tackle impunity and drive forward progress on the Malian peace process.