Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of progress towards combatting the Islamist insurgency in Burkina Faso and the threat it poses to neighbouring countries.

The UK is monitoring the increase in terrorism and violent extremism in Burkina Faso. Rising insecurity has contributed to an alarming increase in identity-based violence and atrocities, including by Islamic extremist groups and state forces.

I have discussed the impact of the security challenges faced by Burkina Faso and the Sahel with regional neighbours, including Senegalese PM Sonko, Ghana, Algeria, Mauritania and the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel.

The UK is providing over £142 million in bilateral overseas development aid to the Sahel this financial year, to provide humanitarian support and address the drivers of conflict.