Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Ugandan counterpart on the safety of civilians in South Sudan.

The UK Government has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of political detainees, and the protection of civilians in our engagement with the Government of South Sudan and other regional partners. On 3 April, the Minister for Africa met with President Museveni and discussed our shared concerns about the escalating tensions in South Sudan. On 8 May, the UK voted in favour of the extension of the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan, preserving its key role in the protection of civilians. On 4 June, our Ambassador to South Sudan attended an Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) convened conference to discuss South Sudan, stressing the urgent need for regional partners, including Uganda, to engage with the Government of South Sudan at the highest level, and supported the recommendation for an IGAD Heads of State visit to South Sudan.