Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of progress towards free, fair, peaceful and timely legislative elections in Guinea-Bissau.

The Government of Guinea Bissau has begun preparations for legislative elections in June 2023, most notably on updating the electoral register. We have urged the Government of Guinea Bissau to uphold freedom of expression in the run-up to the elections to help ensure a free, fair and peaceful process. The UK has previously supported efforts to strengthen parliamentary capacity in Bissau and provided election monitors. Working with likeminded partners, the UK will keep the situation under review and remains committed to supporting democratic institutions in West Africa.