Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the government of Burundi in ensuring that the upcoming elections in that country are free and fair.

The elections scheduled for May this year represent an important moment for the people of Burundi. We remain very concerned that the elections will not take place in a fair and peaceful environment and we therefore call on the government and international community to minimise the risk of violence and work towards an inclusive electoral process where all parties are free to participate peacefully. In coordination with key partners, the UK has raised our concerns with the Government of Burundi, in the UN Security Council and in other multilateral bodies, and has urged the international community to ensure that the focus remains on reducing the risk of violence in Burundi.