Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have supported proposals in the UN Security Council to give the Group of Five Sahel Joint Force a UN peacekeeping mandate and funding.

The creation of the G5 Sahel Joint Force is a step forward in countering terrorism and illegal migration. We were pleased that the UN Security Council offered its political support to the mission earlier this year. For our part the United Kingdom is currently undertaking a scoping mission to see what more we can do in the Sahel, including potential support to the G5 Sahel Joint Force. Funding is an important factor in determining a mission’s success, which is why we were pleased to support the EU commitment to provide €50 million to the Joint Force.

We recognise the challenges faced by the force and the value of tackling terrorists and traffickers with a holistic approach right across the region, in particular ensuring there is a clear plan to deliver services alongside security. If security gains are to take root, work must also continue to develop robust frameworks for compliance with human rights and international humanitarian law. We welcome the UN Secretary-General’s recent report on the mission and his options for potential UN support. We are studying these in detail and considering the complementary roles that bilateral and multilateral support can play in the Sahel region.