Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the secondary coup in Burkina Faso on 30 September 2020; and what assessment he has made of the impact of this secondary coup on (a) the risk of (i) corruption and (ii) human rights abuses by Russia-linked organisations in, (b) the prospects for peacebuilding in northern, (c) the protection of civilians in, (d) human rights abuses in and (e) the (A) timescale and (B) credibility for a transition to civilian democratic government in Burkina Faso.

The UK is monitoring closely the situation in Burkina Faso following the coup on 30 September. I [Minister Keegan] have raised concerns about the impact of the coup with international partners, including the human rights abuses committed by Wagner Group in other countries. President Traoré has stated that he intends to respect the 24-month transition timeline agreed between his predecessor and ECOWAS. The UK supports ECOWAS' efforts to deliver a peaceful and democratic transition of power in Burkina Faso and will continue to provide humanitarian aid to those most in need.