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Lords Chamber
Christians: Persecution - Mon 25 Mar 2024
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Written Question
Somaliland: Commonwealth
Monday 18th March 2024

Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of Somaliland joining the Commonwealth.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of independent and equal sovereign states. It is for the Commonwealth Secretary-General and Commonwealth Secretariat to take forward expressions of interest and to assess whether an aspirant member meets the eligibility criteria for membership. The UK, alongside others in the international community, does not recognise Somaliland's unilateral declaration of independence. We believe that the settlement of Somaliland's status is an issue for Somalia and Somaliland to decide through a consultative process and dialogue.


Written Question
Somaliland: Commonwealth
Monday 18th March 2024

Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of Somaliland joining the Commonwealth.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of independent and equal sovereign states. It is for the Commonwealth Secretary-General and Commonwealth Secretariat to take forward expressions of interest and to assess whether an aspirant member meets the eligibility criteria for membership. The UK, alongside others in the international community, does not recognise Somaliland's unilateral declaration of independence. We believe that the settlement of Somaliland's status is an issue for Somalia and Somaliland to decide through a consultative process and dialogue.


Written Question
Somaliland: Commonwealth
Monday 18th March 2024

Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of whether Somaliland meets the criteria for joining the Commonwealth.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of independent and equal sovereign states. It is for the Commonwealth Secretary-General and Commonwealth Secretariat to take forward expressions of interest and to assess whether an aspirant member meets the eligibility criteria for membership. The UK, alongside others in the international community, does not recognise Somaliland's unilateral declaration of independence. We believe that the settlement of Somaliland's status is an issue for Somalia and Somaliland to decide through a consultative process and dialogue.


Written Question
Somaliland: Commonwealth
Monday 18th March 2024

Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will support the application by Somaliland to join the Commonwealth.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of independent and equal sovereign states. It is for the Commonwealth Secretary-General and Commonwealth Secretariat to take forward expressions of interest and to assess whether an aspirant member meets the eligibility criteria for membership. The UK, alongside others in the international community, does not recognise Somaliland's unilateral declaration of independence. We believe that the settlement of Somaliland's status is an issue for Somalia and Somaliland to decide through a consultative process and dialogue.


Departmental Publication (News and Communications)
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Mar. 11 2024

Source Page: UK supports millions of people globally in bid to end gender-based violence
Document: UK supports millions of people globally in bid to end gender-based violence (webpage)

Found: FGM (2019-2027) –  Phase II of FCDO’s flagship ending FGM programme in Kenya, Senegal Ethiopia and Somaliland


Written Question
Airspace: Horn of Africa
Thursday 7th March 2024

Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for (a) his policies and (b) the safety of overflying British aircraft of recent Traffic Collision Avoidance System events over air space controlled by Somalia and Somaliland.

Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The safety and security of British airlines and the travelling public are a top priority for my Department. Management of airspace is a sovereign responsibility and it is for airlines to take decisions on routings. DfT provide additional advice to UK airlines operating outside of the UK where we deem it necessary

In relation to Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) events within Somali airspace, a high number of TCAS events may indicate an inadequate Air Traffic Control provision within the area but it also means that the protections are working and aircraft are being kept separated. Should an aircraft’s TCAS be unserviceable, then protection is still provided by aircraft with a serviceable TCAS. It is also of note that this airspace is not routinely or regularly used by UK operators.


Lords Chamber
Foreign Affairs - Tue 05 Mar 2024
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Mentions:
1: Lord Polak (Con - Life peer) A very short distance from Yemen’s violent and chaotic coast lies Somaliland. - Speech Link


Written Question
Ethiopia: Somalia
Monday 4th March 2024

Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) relations between Ethiopia and Somalia, following the signing of the Ethiopia–Somaliland memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 1 January; and (2) the impact of that MoU on regional stability and efforts to combat Al-Shabaab.

Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Following the signing of the MoU, the UK expressed concern about escalating tensions in the Horn of Africa. Alongside international partners, we continue to encourage dialogue between Ethiopia and Somalia. We urge all parties in the region to avoid escalation and any action that threatens stability. Tackling al-Shabaab remains one of the UK's top international counter-terrorism priorities. We continue to work with Somali and international partners to strengthen the response to the terrorist threat posed by al-Shabaab in Somalia and the region.


Select Committee
Mr. Olivier Bancoult
CHA0016 - The UK Government’s engagement regarding the British Indian Ocean Territory

Written Evidence Feb. 28 2024

Inquiry: The UK Government’s engagement regarding the British Indian Ocean Territory
Inquiry Status: Closed
Committee: Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee on the Overseas Territories

Found: Independence as Ghana 1957 Malayan Union Independence as Malaysia 1957 Togoland Ghana today 1957 British Somaliland