Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the circumstances surrounding the arrest of 11 Cameroonian politicians at a meeting in Abuja on 5 January; what information they have about Cameroonian secessionist leaders either detained in Nigeria or transferred into the custody of the Cameroonian authorities; whether they have urged the Nigerian and Cameroonian authorities to make clear where the Ambazonian independence leaders are; whether they have any information as to whether those individuals have been charged with a crime, and if so, why; and whether they intend to take steps to establish the whereabouts of those individuals.

Eleven Cameroonians were detained in Abuja on 5 January and returned to Cameroon on 24 January. The Government of Cameroon's Information Minister has publicly confirmed that they have been detained and are awaiting trial but he did not specify the charges. The decisions to detain and extradite these individuals is a matter for the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Government of Cameroon.

Minister Baldwin raised our concerns about the situation in the Anglophone regions with Prime Minister Yang and other Cameroonian Ministers on 13 February. We will continue to engage the Government of Cameroon and opposition groups to reiterate the need to exercise restraint, enter into purposeful and inclusive dialogue and take action to reduce tensions.

We welcome their assurance that the detainees are being held in good conditions and urged them to allow access by an independent organisation.