Written question asked by Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour) on Friday, 8 September 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 13 September 2023 (named day). It was answered by Andrew Mitchell (Conservative) on Wednesday, 13 September 2023 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Gabon and Niger: Military Coups

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the security implications for the UK of coups in (a) Gabon and (b) Niger.

Answer: The UK condemns the unconstitutional military takeovers of power in Gabon and Niger. We stand behind the efforts of regional actors to restore constitutional government in both countries. There is currently no increased threat to UK security, however HMG assess that terrorist violence in Niger is highly likely to increase in the next 24 months as a result of the coup. This may have knock-on impacts for regional security in Africa. In Gabon, the situation has remained stable, and the transitional government has committed itself to free and fair elections. We continue to monitor the situation in both countries closely for further developments.

Secondary information