Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to extend the UK’s diplomatic presence across Africa, in particular into smaller countries.

Since 2018, the UK has increased its diplomatic reach by over 350 staff across Africa, including in Mali, Niger, Chad, Mauritania, Eswatini and Lesotho. In addition, the UK contributes to international diplomatic efforts, including through its Sahel Envoys and Sahel Alliance networks. We continue to keep under close review the size and location of our network to ensure that it remains appropriate for delivering HMG priorities across Africa within the overall resources available.