Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many civilian casualties there were in the attack by the Chadian army on the town of Kouri Bougoudi in September 2018; and what representations he has made to his Chadian counterpart on that attack.

We are aware of reports that the Chadian security forces engaged Libyan-based Chadian rebels occupying parts of Kouri Bougoudi in August and September 2018, and that during these actions, civilians may have been harmed. In discussions with the Chadian authorities on their fight against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin and insurgents elsewhere in the country, Her Majesty's Government has made it clear that we expect them to abide by the international standards that govern how any military deals with innocent civilian by-standers. We will continue to monitor the situation closely​.