Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the decision by the Crisis Group to place Somaliland on its March 2023 Conflict Risk Alert, in response to concerns about escalating violence in the Sool region, what assessment they have made of the current security situation in Somaliland.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK is closely monitoring violence in Las Anod. We assess that there are risks of further escalation and instability unless a ceasefire is upheld and a peaceful resolution reached. We are working with partners to press all parties to end the fighting. The UK joined UN statements on 7 and 14 February that urged both sides to prevent civilian casualties, allow unfettered humanitarian access and engage in dialogue. On 28 February, the UK issued a joint statement with Qatar, Somalia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and US that called for de-escalation. The UK-supported Start Fund is providing support via Oxfam to households displaced by the violence.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterpart in Somaliland on the recent violence in Las Anod; and whether he has taken recent steps to help promote dialogue between clan militias and the authorities in that country.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK has been pressing for an urgent end to the violence in Las Anod. The UK has raised the issue regularly with the Somaliland authorities, including Somaliland President Bihi, alongside other international partners. The UK joined UN statements on 7 and 14 February that urged both sides to prevent further civilian casualties, allow unfettered humanitarian access and engage in dialogue. On 28 February, following discussions in Washington, the UK issued a joint statement with Qatar, Somalia, Turkey, the UAE and the US calling on all parties to de-escalate. We will, with partners, continue to encourage talks between clan elders, and continue to engage all parties involved to try to bring an end to the violence and prevent regional instability.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding the Government allocated to Somaliland's police Rapid Reaction Unit between 2011 and 2020.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK has supported security and justice sector reform in Somaliland since 2011. This has included work to improve the effectiveness of the judiciary and prosecutors, the police, coastguard and army, in compliance with international law and in line with international human rights standards. UK funding for Somaliland's Police Rapid Reaction Unit (RRU) ended in March 2020. Exact figures for the amount of funding allocated to Somaliland's police RRU are not available, as support was provided as part of wider projects.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to promote freedom of religion or belief in Somaliland, including for the Christian community.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We consistently urge the Somaliland authorities to uphold human rights. The Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief raised the issue of religious freedom and due process in the case of detained Christian converts in a letter to the Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 22 October 2022. We see the promotion of respect for human rights as essential to peace and stability in the region. We will continue to monitor the human rights situation in Somaliland and to work with human rights defenders across Somaliland to use our collective voice to call for change.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the Government first allocated funding to support Somaliland's police Rapid Reaction Unit; and how much that funding was until it ended in March 2020.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK has supported security and justice sector reform in Somaliland since 2011. This has included work to improve the effectiveness of the judiciary and prosecutors, the police, coastguard and army, in compliance with international law, and in line with international human rights standards. UK funding for Somaliland's Police Rapid Reaction Unit ended in March 2020. Our efforts to improve Somaliland's security sector now focus on support for the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) of the Somaliland Police, which has successfully established a state-of-the-art investigation and detentions facility. The CTU has also achieved significant operational successes, including the prosecution of high-interest terrorism cases.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to support international partners facing instability following democratic elections.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Promoting democracy and defending democratic freedoms are fundamental to the UK's international policy. Our Arm's Length Body, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), provides electoral integrity support to countries around the world. WFD has led post-electoral reform work in Somaliland and Zambia and continues to develop practical electoral reform tools for partners to enhance electoral integrity. In Fragile and Conflict Affected States the UK's work targets the drivers of crises. Political transitions can be destabilising and, based on detailed analysis, where risks are high we draw on cross government capabilities to help reduce tension.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
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 human rights situation in Somaliland.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The human rights situation in Somaliland deteriorated in 2022, in particular the curtailing of media freedoms, restrictions on the freedoms of assembly and expression and the use of disproportionate force and live fire to disperse protestors. We see the promotion of respect for human rights as essential to peace and stability. We will continue to monitor the human rights situation in Somaliland and to work with human rights defenders across Somaliland to use our collective voice to call for change.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) support accountability and (b) prevent impunity with the authorities in Somaliland for recent deaths associated with protests in the disputed town of Las Anod.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK recognises the importance of stability and security in Somaliland and the region and we regularly coordinate with international partners, the UN and the Somaliland Government to support stabilisation efforts. Following violence in Las Anod, as well as diplomatic engagement, our Ambassador in Mogadishu issued a bilateral statement on 31 December 2022 and a joint statement with the UN and 28 others on 1 January, calling for restraint and dialogue in the context of civilian deaths and casualties. We continue to monitor the situation closely and are urging all sides to de-escalate the situation, avoid further casualties and resolve the matter peacefully.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help provide resources to Somalia and Somaliland, in the context of drought in 2022.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Somalia urgently needs life-saving aid. In late 2022 I visited Somalia and saw how the drought is impacting millions across the country. I met President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, other government figures and humanitarian delivery partners, to discuss preparation for future crises. I also announced further UK aid, bringing the total humanitarian, health and nutrition support in Somalia to over £61 million this financial year.
In Somaliland, as part of a wider package of humanitarian and development support, the UK is working with partners to provide health and nutrition support, including to over 80 health facilities, providing services in the context of drought with the support of our partner UNICEF.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
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 counterparts in (a) Somalia and (b) Somaliland on the status of Somaliland.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK, consistent with the entire international community, does not recognise Somaliland's unilateral declaration of independence. It is for Somaliland and Somalia to come to an agreement about their future relationship. Any new arrangements would need to be recognised by the African Union and neighbours in the region. The African Union is the pre-eminent regional body mandated to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its Member States, of which Somalia is one. The UK encourages dialogue between Mogadishu and Hargeisa on this issue. During my visit to Somalia in November 2022, I reiterated this position in my engagements with the Federal Government of Somalia.