Written question asked by Lord Boateng (Labour) on Wednesday, 29 March 2023, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 14 April 2023. It was answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative) on Thursday, 13 April 2023 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Sahel: Al Qaeda

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threat of Al-Qaeda in the Sahel region; and what steps they intend to take to counter that threat.

Answer: The UK is closely monitoring events in Burkina Faso and the wider Sahel region including the worsening security and humanitarian situation. The UK is committed to supporting stability and development in Burkina Faso. During a visit to Niger in February, the Minister for Development and Africa, Minister Mitchell, announced a new Sahel Regional Fund which will provide urgent life-saving aid and lasting, dignified solutions to people displaced by conflict and violence in hotspots of humanitarian need in the Sahel region, including Burkina Faso. The UK has committed £33 million to this fund up to 2026. Officials also visited Burkina Faso in January and raised concerns about the security and humanitarian situation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The UK continues to monitor closely the terrorist threat from the Sahel, including from Al Qaeda, and has proscribed the organisation and its associated groups such as Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM).

Secondary information