Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the level of Islamic extremist groups in Mali.

The UK is concerned about the deteriorating security situation in Mali, with violent attacks being perpetrated by Islamic extremists. We are committed to building peace and stability in the Sahel through our deployment to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA) which is a clear illustration of how our defence and security capabilities can contribute to regional stability.