Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Southern Kaduna People’s Union letter to the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor published in July calling on the International Criminal Court to act against the “pernicious genocide” in northern Nigeria.

We have seen the letter to the International Criminal Court's Chief Prosecutor from the Southern Kaduna People's Union. We condemn all incidents of intercommunal violence affecting both Christian and Muslim communities in Nigeria, including recent attacks in Kaduna State. We also condemn acts of terrorism in North East Nigeria, including those committed by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa. It is important that we do not conflate these distinct conflicts as it risks exacerbating tensions. It is UK Government policy not to unilaterally determine whether genocide has occurred, in line with the Genocide Convention. This is a matter for competent courts and tribunals, including the International Criminal Court, after consideration of all the evidence, rather than governments or non-judicial bodies.

The UK continues to play an active role in helping Nigeria to tackle conflict. We call on the Nigerian Government to take urgent action to protect those at risk violence, bring perpetrators to justice and implement long-term solutions that address the root causes of conflict.