Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications of the security situation in Somalia’s South West state for the safe conduct of the presidential election due to take place in that state on 19 November 2018.

The South West State presidential election is now scheduled to take place on 28 November 2018. The election will not be one-person-one-vote as the electorate comprises Members of the South West State Parliament. The UK is calling on all parties to ensure a peaceful election. Our Ambassador to Somalia has sought assurances from the Somali National Army and Police in South West State that there is a credible plan for security during the election period and that forces will remain impartial. Election security is expected to be provided by a combination of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM), United Nations Police, South West State Police and Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency.