Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) support accountability and (b) prevent impunity with the authorities in Somaliland for recent deaths associated with protests in the disputed town of Las Anod.

The UK recognises the importance of stability and security in Somaliland and the region and we regularly coordinate with international partners, the UN and the Somaliland Government to support stabilisation efforts. Following violence in Las Anod, as well as diplomatic engagement, our Ambassador in Mogadishu issued a bilateral statement on 31 December 2022 and a joint statement with the UN and 28 others on 1 January, calling for restraint and dialogue in the context of civilian deaths and casualties. We continue to monitor the situation closely and are urging all sides to de-escalate the situation, avoid further casualties and resolve the matter peacefully.