Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the government of Burundi on political violence in that country.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The UK Government remains deeply concerned about the political situation in Burundi and the allegations of horrific human rights abuses against its people.
Our Special Envoy to the Great Lakes, Danae Dholakia, met with several Burundian government Ministers alongside her French counterpart in Bujumbura in June; and met with the Burundian Foreign Minister in Arusha in mid-July. In July we deployed a permanent UK Diplomat to Bujumbura to increase our engagement.
We support the East African Community (EAC) led dialogue process mediated by former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and have been present through our Special Envoy at each round of the dialogue so far, engaging directly with all parties.
We have also been working with partners to ensure that the international response is robust. We supported the suspension of EU aid direct to the government last March. We imposed EU sanctions on individuals accused of human rights abuses. We agreed UN Security Council Resolutions, including UNSCR 2303 which mandates a UN police force. We pushed for a strong Burundi resolution in the Human Rights Council on 27 September and welcome its establishment of a Commission of Enquiry. Burundi is a UK priority country for human rights work in 2016.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the next presidential election in that country.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
One of my first visits since my appointment as Africa Minister in July was to the DRC on 8-10 August. During my visit, I met a number of senior members of the government. I stressed the importance of holding Presidential elections within the constitutional time frame. Our Embassy in Kinshasa and our Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region take every opportunity to make this point to members of the DRC Government. I also hosted an event on the DRC during the UN General Assembly in September, where I discussed a collective approach to addressing the issue of electoral delay with a number of foreign ministers and Special Envoys to the Great Lakes.
Following the violence in Kinshasa on 19 September, I made a statement condemning the violence and urged the DRC Government to set a date for Presidential elections as soon as possible in 2017; this can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/minister-for-africa-concerned-at-violence-in-drc. On 20 September, I made a further such statement urging for respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as reiterating the need for a date for Presidential elections; this can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tobias-ellwood-minister-for-middle-east-and-africa-calls-on-drc-government-to-set-election-date
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Eritrea on the increase in political asylum seekers from that country.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The UK participates in the EU/Africa Khartoum Process; the main regional mechanism for tackling human trafficking and people smuggling in the Horn of Africa most notably from Eritrea.
We are using our increased engagement with Eritrea to push for the tangible improvements in Eritrea's human rights record, including: amending its national service system; fully implementing its own constitution; and cooperating with international human rights bodies.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will now consider acknowledging mass atrocity prevention or the prevention of identity-based mass violence to be a matter of national interest and a national priority.
Answered by James Duddridge
The UK continues to be strongly committed to early and effective international action to prevent mass atrocities. The National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 underlined the importance the Government attaches to upholding international humanitarian law and to the prevention of mass atrocities through effective implementation of the UN agreed principle of the Responsibility to Protect.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which countries have not received a visit by a UK Minister since 2000.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
This information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Ministers regularly make visits overseas in pursuit of UK interests.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to contribute towards stabilising the security situation in Burundi.
Answered by James Duddridge
I have recently returned from a visit to Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi on 15, 16 and 17 December to contribute towards stabilising the security situation in Burundi. In my meeting with the Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, I encouraged him to take forward the proposed dialogue with renewed urgency. In my meeting with the Rwandan Foreign Minister, I underlined the need for constructive engagement to solve the Burundi crisis. I was clear with the Burundian Foreign Minister that President Nkurunziza must take up President Museveni’s offer of mediation and engage in talks with all parties. This follows a number of telephone calls I have made to the Burundian Foreign Minister following the inflammatory comments made by the President and President of the Senate. This engagement is the latest example of the lead role that the UK has played in building a single, consistent, international community response to the security situation in Burundi. In January we set up a group of key international partners, who have since worked together to develop a common strategy and encouraged President Nkurunziza to engage with the international community and respect the principles of the Arusha Agreement. In June the UK appointed a Special Envoy to the Great Lakes, Danae Dholakia, who is active in delivering our messages on Burundi. We have supported the East Africa Community in delivering a regional solution. And we have encouraged the African Union efforts to play a strong role in organising an inclusive dialogue outside of Burundi. This would do much to help to pave the way for delivery of a sustainable solution to the crisis. We continue to work with the African Union to mobilise the financial and political resources to support the mediation process. It was under the UK’s Presidency of the UN Security Council that Resolution 2248 was agreed. This Resolution demonstrates the unity of the international community in its approach to the crisis. We continue to work with our colleagues around the world on contingency options. In addition, the Department for International Development is providing £14.25 million to support the relief efforts for refugees fleeing to the region. The Department for International Development is further providing £3.9 million for the refugee response in Rwanda through the United Nations and non-governmental organisations. This has been used to fund refugee transport, medical care, shelters and food rations. Finally, the UK strongly supported a sanctions regime for Burundi. Four individuals have been listed so far. The European Union and African Union are giving consideration to further sanctions against individuals.Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to ensure that medical and fuel supplies for Nepal are not blocked by the Indian government.
Answered by Lord Swire
I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 26 November 2015 (PQ 17369) and 16 November (PQ 15614).
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who, other than Ministers of the Crown and members of the Diplomatic Service, has been sent from the UK to represent the Government at inaugurations of foreign Heads of State and government since May 2010; and what the cost was of that representation in each such case.
Answered by David Lidington
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 January 2015 (PQ 219962) given by The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire).
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to assist the Nigerian and Cameroon governments in combating Boko Haram.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The UK is working with international partners, including the US and France, to support Nigeria and its neighbours, including Cameroon, in their fight against Boko Haram. The UK is providing a substantial package of UK military, intelligence and development support and expertise to Nigeria, including tactical training and capacity building support to the Nigerian armed forces. We are also working with the United Nations, European Union and International Committee of the Red Cross to support the large number of people displaced by the conflict.
Ministerial meetings in Paris, London and Abuja last year brought together international and regional partners to help Nigeria and its neighbours implement measures to tackle Boko Haram. The Right Hon Stephen O’Brien MP (Special Rep for the Sahel) attended the follow-up meeting on security in Nigeria on 20 January in Niamey, Niger where further discussion took place on improving regional cooperation to tackle the Boko Haram threat.