Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the risk of insecurity linked to jihadist groups spreading into Benin; what steps he is taking to support security in Benin; and what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on support for security in Benin.

The UK continues to monitor the deteriorating situation across the Sahel, and the impact on coastal West African countries including Benin. We are supportive of the efforts of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States and the Accra Initiative to respond to increases in insecurity and the threat to Benin and other countries.

The UK Minister for Armed Forces and the former Minister for Africa have visited the region to understand how the UK could support regional security initiatives. At the UK-Ghana Security Dialogue in July the UK Government confirmed our ambition to help regional partners to galvanise international support for such efforts. Meanwhile, the UK continues to support partners to strengthen their security capability. In the last year, 11 members of the Beninese Armed Forces have been sponsored by the UK to attend Professional Military Education courses that range from Planning, Leadership and Peace Support Operations.