Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the risk of a coup in Gabon in 2022; and what steps she is taking to help ensure that free and fair elections can be held in that country.

We monitor developments in Gabon from our High Commission in Yaoundé (in Cameroon). We are aware of recent speculation in the British media about threats of a coup in Gabon. We will continue to monitor the situation closely. On elections, we stand ready to support the electoral process, working with international partners, including the EU and UN, in coordination with the Government of Gabon and call for all parties to engage constructively in the elections and uphold democratic principles including the rule of law.