Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their strategy to support the central Sahel region in Africa and to assist Sahelian countries in addressing both the security challenges and longer-term structural challenges that they face.

The UK combines development, diplomatic and defence approaches to respond to the instability in the Sahel and meet the needs of the most vulnerable. Our priorities are responding to humanitarian needs, building resilience, and addressing the root causes of insecurity and poverty (including supporting democratic political transitions).  The UK does not work through military transition governments, and we have most recently suspended direct support to Niger but we continue to provide humanitarian and development assistance to the people of the Sahel. Our development support includes education and reproductive health services for women. We support regionally led efforts to prevent the spread of insecurity.