Written question asked by Alexander Stafford (Conservative) on Tuesday, 13 July 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 15 July 2021. It was answered by James Duddridge (Conservative) on Wednesday, 21 July 2021 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Niger: Christianity

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to reports by Aid to the Church in Need on 2 July 2021, what support his Department is providing to Christians in Niger as result of news of an attack on Fantio and Dolbel in the Tillabéri region.

Answer: Actions by violent extremist groups in the Sahel and West Africa seek to undermine the right to freedom of religion and have targeted both Christian and Muslim communities. The UK Government condemns acts of terrorism in the Sahel, and is committed to supporting freedom of religion or belief for all. In July this year I discussed the deteriorating security situation in the Tillabéri region of Niger with the Nigerien Minister for Foreign Affairs and President Bazoum. The UK supports long-term stability in Niger and the wider region through the provision of three Chinook helicopters to France's counter-terrorism Operation Barkhane, and through our programmatic support to Niger's High Authority for the Consolidation of the Peace in Torodi, as well as the UN's Regional Stabilisation Facility in the Diffa region. The UK also provides significant humanitarian assistance to Niger, providing life-saving aid to over 718,000 Nigeriens between 2019 and 2021.

Secondary information