Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Saudi Arabia regarding the release of imprisoned women activists in that country, particularly (1) Manahel al-Otaibi, and (2) Salma al-Shehab.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have raised the continued detention of individuals for expressing their political views, including women and women's rights defenders, with the Saudi government. The FCDO is closely monitoring both Manahel al-Otaibi and Salma al-Shehab's cases, and the British Embassy in Riyadh will continue to attempt to attend trials where possible. I, Minister for the Middle East, regularly raise individual freedom of expression cases with the Saudi authorities, including as recently as 31 January with the President of the Saudi Human Rights Commission. Saudi Arabia remains a FCDO human rights priority country, in part due to continued restrictions on freedom of expression.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the humanitarian situation in Abyei, following any conflict-induced internal displacements; and what support they will provide to enable the safe return of any internally displaced persons to their homes.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The influx of refugees and returnees fleeing the conflict in Sudan, inter-communal violence and recurrent flooding has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation in Abyei. We are working with the UN and the humanitarian community in Sudan and South Sudan to address these immense humanitarian needs. De-escalation of violence and a sustained peace is essential to facilitate the safe return of internally displaced people to their homes. We continue to urge both the Governments of South Sudan and the de facto authorities in Sudan to regularise meetings of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee and agree joint security mechanisms to improve stability in Abyei until its final status can be agreed.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the governments of Sudan and South Sudan to implement the UN Security Council’s recommendations in the Secretary-General’s Report on the situation in Abyei.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK echoes the UN Secretary-General's encouragement for the African Union to intensify its mediation efforts to help reach a political solution for Abyei. We continue to urge both the Governments of South Sudan and the de facto authorities in Sudan to regularise meetings of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee and agree joint security mechanisms to improve stability in Abyei until its final status can be agreed. The UK has expressed alarm in the UN Security Council about the ongoing positioning of the South Sudanese People's Defence Forces in Abyei and have called upon the Government of South Sudan to immediately withdraw its troops in line with its commitments under the 2011 Status of Forces Agreement.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of South Sudan concerning the implementation of President Kiir’s decree on the disarmament of any violent groups within the Ngok and Twic Dinka communities.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is using its position as a permanent member of the Security Council to press both the government of South Sudan and the de facto Sudanese authorities to ensure The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) can fully and effectively implement its mandate, in line with their responsibility as host states. The UK released a statement alongside Troika (UK, US, Norway) partners on January 29, to condemn the series of armed attacks in Abyei and urge the Government of South Sudan urgently to withdraw its troops in line with its commitments under the 2011 Status of Forces Agreement.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following recent attacks on civilians and UN peacekeepers, what is their assessment of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei capacity at its current troop level to protect civilians in Abyei Administrative Area.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei's (UNISFA) mandate was renewed in November 2023 and amended better to equip the mission to respond quickly to security incidents and to place greater emphasis on community engagement. The UK is using its position as a permanent member of the Security Council to urge both the government of South Sudan and the de facto Sudanese authorities to ensure UNISFA can fully and effectively implement its mandate, in line with their responsibility as host states and the 2011 Status of Forces Agreements. The extension of the UNISFA mandate from six to twelve months will also better enable the mission to develop longer-term strategies.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much bilateral aid they have sent to Nigeria since 2015.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains committed to supporting a more stable, resilient and prosperous Nigeria. From 2015 to 2022, the UK Government provided approximately £1.96 billion in bilateral Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to Nigeria and has allocated £72.3 million in bilateral ODA for financial year 2023/2024. As well as supporting the humanitarian response in North East Nigeria, UK ODA has achieved sustainable results across a range of sectors. For example, the UK has supported over 2 million Nigerians to improve their incomes or jobs sustainably since 2015; strengthened education outcomes for over 8 million children since 2009; and supported over 1.5 million additional girls to access schooling in six states since 2012.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the second-order effects of mass displacement in central Nigeria, especially on (1) educational outcomes, (2) the use of narcotics among young people, and (3) the risk of trafficking.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Displacement in Nigeria has a significant impact on children, who are often no longer able to attend school and therefore lack education provision for an extended period of time. This can also increase vulnerability to trafficking and other safeguarding issues. While the UK funds development initiatives in some Middle Belt states, our humanitarian assistance is aligned with the UN Humanitarian Response Plan which focusses on North-East Nigeria, which is most impacted by displacement. The UK is also supporting Nigeria's National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency to increase the local law enforcement agencies' capacity and capability to disrupt narcotics flow across Nigeria, in line with human rights standards.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the sources of weapons used by perpetrators of recent violence in Plateau State, Nigeria.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The proliferation of weapons is exacerbating security challenges across Nigeria, although exact sources of weapons used in the recent violence in Plateau state remain uncertain. We are supporting Nigeria to address the proliferation of weapons by providing x-ray image interpretation training to the Nigerian Drugs Law Enforcement Agency to assist them with detecting weapons and weapon parts when screening baggage, fast parcels, and air freight. Furthermore, we are supporting Nigeria to strengthen its borders, including through the Collaboration Against Trafficking and Smuggling (CATS) programme. This programme operates along the Nigerian-Niger border and aims to build the capability of the border agencies to tackle cross-border human trafficking and smuggling.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the link between Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province in Nigeria's northern states, and perpetrators of violence in Nigeria's central states.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It is likely that some criminal networks engage in illicit trade, including trading of weapons, with terrorist groups in Nigeria, including in its northern states. This is distinct from intercommunal violence, which occurs particularly in Nigeria's Middle Belt and is driven by lack of economic opportunities, disruption to traditional ways of life created by environmental degradation and historical grievances. Through our UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, we are working with Nigeria to respond to shared threats and are supporting Nigeria to tackle insecurity and promote human rights.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that rates of kidnappings for ransom have increased in central Nigeria.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government condemns the abduction and captivity of all persons for ransom. We are aware of a rise in kidnappings in central Nigeria. It is difficult to provide a definitive figure because of differing recording practices across agencies and because not all kidnaps are reported to the Nigerian authorities. At the latest UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) dialogue in February, we strengthened our commitment to providing mentoring and capacity-building support to the agencies with a mandate to tackle the threat of kidnap. This will help reduce harm to victims and hold those responsible to account.