The Electoral Commission of Uganda issued its strategic plan in October 2022 and outlined a roadmap for the 2026 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. The UK has not taken any decision on election observation. The UK provides financial support to the African Union via the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa and to the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Peaceful, free and credible elections are essential to Senegal's stability. Our Ambassador and Embassy in Dakar regularly engage with the Senegalese Government and civil society groups, together with international partners to reinforce these messages. The Embassy coordinated closely with international partners to observe the Senegalese Presidential elections, including by sending diplomatic staff as observers to polling stations across the country. British Embassy Dakar have also supported civil society groups through ODA programme funding to strengthen democratic practices, specifically media freedom during the elections period.

The UK Government engages with the Government of Togo through our High Commission in Accra. We encourage a peaceful and inclusive dialogue in Togo, to work through constitutional reforms; and we urge the Government to set a new date for legislative and regional elections without delay. The UK will continue to engage partners, including ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), and monitor for further developments.

We are coordinating closely with international partners on observing the forthcoming Presidential elections, including by sending our own diplomatic staff as observers to polling stations across the country. We are also engaging with a range of civil society organisations to support their efforts to ensure the Presidential elections run fairly and transparently.

The UK has engaged stakeholders including the government, opposition, election bodies and the international community, before and after the 24 June elections. We have given consistent messaging on good governance, the rule of law and the importance of an inclusive democracy that works for all. The UK remains committed to supporting a democratic, peaceful and prosperous Sierra Leone.

The UK commends the signing of the Agreement for National Cohesion on 18 October as part of the peace dialogue between the Government of Sierra Leone and opposition following the elections. We are coordinating closely with international partners to support implementation of the Agreement, including a national election review committee, a review of political prisoners and inter-party dialogue. These reforms are essential to strengthen the democratic process before elections in 2028.

The former Foreign Secretary spoke to President Bio on 8 August and, most recently, I [Minister Mitchell] met the Minister for the Environment, who represented Sierra Leone at COP28. There will be further opportunities for Ministers to meet, including at the UK-African Investment Summit. Officials in London engage with the Sierra Leone High Commissioner and his team to discuss current issues in Sierra Leone.

The UK has engaged stakeholders including the government, opposition, election bodies and the international community, before and after the 24 June elections. We have given consistent messaging on good governance, the rule of law and the importance of an inclusive democracy that works for all. The UK remains committed to supporting a democratic, peaceful and prosperous Sierra Leone.

The UK commends the signing of the Agreement for National Cohesion on 18 October as part of the peace dialogue between the Government of Sierra Leone and opposition following the elections. We are coordinating closely with international partners to support implementation of the Agreement, including a national election review committee, a review of political prisoners and inter-party dialogue. These reforms are essential to strengthen the democratic process before elections in 2028.

The former Foreign Secretary spoke to President Bio on 8 August and, most recently, I [Minister Mitchell] met the Minister for the Environment, who represented Sierra Leone at COP28. There will be further opportunities for Ministers to meet, including at the UK-African Investment Summit. Officials in London engage with the Sierra Leone High Commissioner and his team to discuss current issues in Sierra Leone.

The UK, and Troika (US, UK and Norway) have been engaged in South Sudan's peace process since the signing of the revitalised peace agreement in 2018. We collectively urge the Government of South Sudan to implement the terms of the Agreement, including free and fair elections. Our Joint Troika Statement on Sudan and South Sudan on 27 June emphasised the urgent need for the Government of South Sudan to make enough progress to allow elections to happen. The UK also funds the placement of technical experts in both the ceasefire and peace agreement implementation monitoring mechanisms, which play an important part in South Sudan's Peace Agreement and help hold the parties to their commitments.

The UK is committed to supporting the aspirations of the Sierra Leonean people and has engaged stakeholders including the government, opposition, election bodies and international community in the months leading up to, during and after the elections. We have given consistent messages about the importance of free and fair elections, good governance and the rule of law. The former Foreign Secretary raised these issues during his March visit to Sierra Leone and in a telephone call with President Bio on 7 August. It remains vital that Sierra Leone's political leaders support the democratic process and reduce the risk of civil unrest.

Peaceful, free and credible elections are essential to Senegal's stability. Our Ambassador and Embassy in Dakar regularly reinforce these messages, together with international partners, with the Senegalese Government and civil society groups. The Embassy will monitor the upcoming Presidential elections process closely. We are also exploring support to civil society groups through our International Programme Fund to reinforce democratic practices, specifically media freedom, during the elections period.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

The UK has engaged stakeholders including the government, opposition, election bodies and the international community, in the run up, during and after the elections. We have given consistent messaging on good governance, the rule of law and the importance of an inclusive democracy that works for all. The Foreign Secretary raised these issues during his visit to Sierra Leone in March and in a telephone call with President Bio on 7 August. It remains vital that Sierra Leone's political leaders engage with efforts to support the democratic process. We remain committed to supporting the aspirations of the Sierra Leonean people.

The UK has a long-standing commitment to supporting prosperity, development and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The UK is working with stakeholders to support the delivery of elections this year. We continue to emphasise the need for these to be free, fair, inclusive, and transparent to support long-term stability and prosperity. I visited DRC in March, meeting politicians, business, and civil society groups to discuss the many challenges DRC faces but also the enormous opportunities. I spoke to the DRC Minister of Finance on Friday 13th October at the World Bank Annual Meeting reinforcing its argument for free & fair elections later this year.

We noted a number of discrepancies in the election process. These have been communicated to the Government of Sierra Leone and elections management bodies. It remains vital that political leaders engage with efforts to support Sierra Leone's democratic process.

We have engaged stakeholders including the government, opposition, election bodies and the international community, in the months leading up to, during and after the elections. We have given consistent messaging on good governance, the rule of law and the importance of free, fair and peaceful elections. The Foreign Secretary raised these issues during his visit to Sierra Leone in March and in a telephone call with President Bio on 7 August.

The UK commends Zimbabwean voters for their peaceful participation in Zimbabwe's recent elections. However, the UK shares the views expressed in International Election Observation Mission preliminary statements that the pre-election period and election day fell short of regional and international standards. The UK is also concerned about the lack of transparency surrounding the compiling of results by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the severe disruption of domestic observation. We note the EU Observation Mission findings that over the election period "fundamental freedoms were increasingly curtailed" through "regressive legal changes". We also share the SADC Observation Mission's views that the passing of the amendments to the Criminal Law Code Amendment Act "resulted in severe restriction of freedom of expression".

I engaged with a range of international and regional actors in advance of Zimbabwe's elections to underline the importance of their peacefulness and credibility. This included discussions with the Commonwealth Secretary General on 27 July and the Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia and Angola's Foreign Minister on 8 August. During my visit to the region in May, I discussed the elections with Zambian, Mozambican and South African Heads of State and Ministers and former President Chissano. I also underlined the importance of credible and peaceful elections during his meeting with President Mnangagwa on 5 May in the margins of the Coronation. The UK has consistently highlighted the importance of independent observation and we were pleased the European Union, African Union, Southern African Development Community and Commonwealth sent independent Election Observation Missions. These Missions have issued detailed preliminary statements which include findings on where the elections fell short of regional and international standards.

Whilst we commend the people of Zimbabwe for demonstrating patience and resilience in exercising their democratic rights, and especially for maintaining a peaceful atmosphere on election day and beyond, we share the view of the Election Observation Missions' preliminary statements that the pre-election environment and election day fell short of regional and international standards. Issues included limited transparency from the electoral commission, the lack of level playing field, the passing of repressive legislation, long delays in the opening of some polling stations and reports of intimidation of voters. The UK takes note of the announcement by the Chair of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of results on 26 August. However, we are concerned by a lack of transparency in the tallying of results, as well as the arrests of domestic observers.

The FCDO regularly discusses good governance, rule of law and the importance of free, fair and peaceful elections with the Sierra Leonean Government, opposition and key stakeholders. The Foreign Secretary has highlighted these messages, including with the President and opposition leader, during and since his visit in March 2023. Throughout, the UK has been clear that violence has no place in a democracy and has supported a peaceful conclusion to the electoral process.

Officials in the British High Commission Freetown and in London are working with international partners, including the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union and country partners, to follow up on the elections.

Violence has no place in a democracy and the UK condemns the use of violence by any party to elections. The outcome of the June 2023 elections in Sierra Leone was for the Sierra Leonean people to decide. The UK commends the dedication Sierra Leoneans displayed in exercising their right to vote. Our High Commission and the Foreign Secretary have consistently called for transparency and clarity from the Government of Sierra Leone, election management bodies and opposition parties. The UK has also funded a voter education programme to increase communities' engagement with, and understanding of, the electoral process. The High Commission deployed observers across the country during polling and tallying of results and, along with other partners, we note logistical problems hampered voting on election day in certain areas. We share the concerns of observation missions about the lack of transparency in the tabulation process. We remain committed to supporting democracy and the aspirations of the Sierra Leonean people. We are urging everyone to exercise restraint, respect the rule of law, and engage in peaceful dialogue to resolve disputes.

Violence has no place in a democracy and the UK condemns the use of violence by any party to elections. The outcome of the June 2023 elections in Sierra Leone was for the Sierra Leonean people to decide. The UK commends the dedication Sierra Leoneans displayed in exercising their right to vote. Our High Commission and the Foreign Secretary have consistently called for transparency and clarity from the Government of Sierra Leone, election management bodies and opposition parties. The UK has also funded a voter education programme to increase communities' engagement with, and understanding of, the electoral process. The High Commission deployed observers across the country during polling and tallying of results and, along with other partners, we note logistical problems hampered voting on election day in certain areas. We share the concerns of observation missions about the lack of transparency in the tabulation process. We remain committed to supporting democracy and the aspirations of the Sierra Leonean people. We are urging everyone to exercise restraint, respect the rule of law, and engage in peaceful dialogue to resolve disputes.

The UK Government has a long-standing commitment to supporting prosperity, development, and stability in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The UK is working with stakeholders to support the delivery of elections this year. We continue to emphasise the need for these to be free, fair, inclusive and transparent. We regularly raise the conflict in eastern DRC at the highest levels in Kinshasa, Kigali and the wider region. We continue to urge all parties to deliver on their commitments, agreed through the regional Nairobi and Luanda peace processes. We firmly believe these regional peace processes provide the best means by which to achieve a lasting peace in eastern DRC and offer them our full support.