Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for the Armed Forces of 9 December 2020, Official Report, column 872, what assessment he has made of the significance of gold mining to the financing of terrorist organisations in (a) Mali and (b) neighbouring countries; what discussions he has had with international counterparts on that matter; and if he will make a statement.

The Ministry of Defence has made an assessment of the relationship between artisanal gold mining and the funding of Violent Extremist Organisations (VEOs). The level of funding for VEOs, originating from the sale of gold is assessed to be low, with ransom for kidnap activities and their illicit smuggling activities more of a concern. Nonetheless, part of the UN MINUSMA mission is to encourage better governance in Mali which would tackle the funnelling of funds to support VEOs. The UK will also seek to raise the issue with the Economic Community of West African States.