We are in contact with the local authorities following the armed attacks in Kinshasa. We advise all British nationals to follow our travel advice. British Nationals in DRC who require urgent help should call the British Embassy Kinshasa on +243 81 556 6200.  Anyone in the UK who may be concerned about relatives or friends should call the FCDO on 020 7008 5000.

We strongly condemn the armed attacks perpetrated in Kinshasa on Sunday 19 May and condemn attempts to undermine democracy, peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In response to the attacks, it is important that the rule of law is upheld. We regularly engage with the GoDRC in support of robust democratic processes.

The arson attack against UNRWA's headquarters in East Jerusalem was unacceptable. The perpetrators of this attack must be held to account. The UK Head of Mission, together with Heads of Mission in several partner countries, condemned the incident in a joint statement on 10 May.

Special Envoy for Girls Education, Helen Grant MP, will meet the Nigerian Education Minister on May 20 to discuss Nigeria's upcoming programme of education reform. The UK and Nigeria are signatories of the Safe School Declaration which commits governments to protect education from violence. The UK supports the implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative in Nigeria through its Education in Emergencies and Protracted Crises (EiEPC) programme. This provides assistance to children affected by conflict in Borno and Yobe states, allowing them to learn foundational skills, increase their resilience and strengthen systems which support formal and non-formal education during emergencies.

It is imperative that those doing life-saving work are properly protected. The Foreign Secretary has called on Israel to reform its deconfliction mechanism to ensure the safety of aid workers and to make progress on the UN's minimal operating requirements, including more visas and driver approvals granted, as well as more trucks permitted to cross into Gaza.

It is imperative that those doing life-saving work are properly protected. The Foreign Secretary has called on Israel to reform its deconfliction mechanism to ensure the safety of aid workers and to make progress on the UN's minimal operating requirements, including more visas and driver approvals granted, as well as more trucks permitted to cross into Gaza.

The UK is appalled by the attacks against churches, mosques and local communities in Burkina Faso that took place in late February. As Lord Ahmad said on 26 February, freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is a fundamental right and must be protected, and those responsible for these heinous attacks must be held to account. We routinely discuss security challenges with the transitional authorities in Burkina Faso and continue to work with partners in the region to promote stability.

The UK is monitoring the threat from terrorist groups in the Sahel and has proscribed the Al-Qaeda associated group Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM). We assess that the terrorist threat in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso will likely increase as a result of ongoing instability as will the risk of atrocities against people of all faiths by jihadist armed groups. We do not believe that the withdrawal of French troops alone will have direct implications on the safety of Christian minorities due to the often remote regions where these attacks take place, and the multitude of local factors that influence conflict dynamics in Sahel.

The UK signed up to the UN Security Council statement condemning the terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso which was issued on 29 February 2024, and also continues to provide vital humanitarian aid in the Sahel to support those affected by conflict.

We recognise the valuable role of journalists operating on the ground in Gaza, providing important coverage of the conflict in incredibly challenging circumstances. On 5 December, the UK supported a joint statement of the Media Freedom Coalition expressing concern over the repercussions for the safety of journalists and access to information due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. We continue to call on all parties to the conflict to comply with international law and protect civilians, including guaranteeing the protection of journalists and media workers.

There must be a reduction in civilian casualties and Israel must take greater care to limit its operations to military targets. These are points that the Prime Minister has consistently made and reinforced with Prime Minster Netanyahu when they spoke on 15 February.

We follow the conflict in Amhara and its implications for civilians closely and we have offered assistance to the Government of Ethiopia to find a peaceful solution. The UK has increased support to the Ethiopia Human Rights Commission who monitor the situation and who will be key in implementing the recently announced Transitional Justice Policy for Ethiopia. This aims to provide a mechanism for accountability for crimes committed in Amhara as well as other regions affected by conflict. We continue to speak out on specific incidents such as suspected extra-judicial killings in Merawit and consistently call for the protection of civilians in Amhara and Oromia, most recently at the UN Human Rights Council, and with Government of Ethiopia interlocutors. His Majesty's Ambassador met with the Amhara regional President in January and discussed a number of issues, including the ongoing conflict and prospects for dialogue.

We welcome the Government of Burundi's stated commitment to improving the human rights situation and the recent steps taken which demonstrate progress in this regard. However, President Ndayishimiye's recent comments on the LGBT+ community risk undermining this positive trajectory. In 2022 and 2023 the UK co-sponsored the UN Human Rights Council's Resolutions on Burundi, which urged the full implementation of the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur and the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi in their reports. The UK Government welcomes greater engagement with Burundi on political and social inclusion as Burundi's political trajectory continues to improve.

The FCDO notes the announcement of a Memorandum of Understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland, which suggests that Ethiopia will recognise Somaliland's independence in return for the lease of territory. We are concerned by escalating tensions in the Horn of Africa and are engaging with all relevant parties through our posts in the region to call for calm and encourage dialogue. The UK has reaffirmed its respect for Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and we are aware of statements from the countries and regional bodies referenced in the question. The UK's position remains that the settlement of Somaliland's status is for Somalia and Somaliland to resolve through a consultative process.

The UK acknowledges the tragic deaths of civilians in Tudun Biri in Kaduna State on 3 December 2023. We welcome President Tinubu's commitment to launch an investigation into the incident. Through the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, we are committed to supporting efforts to tackle insecurity and secure a safe and prosperous Nigeria. The UK's engagement with Nigeria's security forces emphasises the importance of human security and civil-military coordination on operations. UK support for building Nigeria's defence capacity routinely includes training on international humanitarian law and protection of civilians.

The UK is engaging closely with Mauritania, the G5 Sahel Presidency, on the recent withdrawal of Niger and Burkina Faso. We continue to discuss the impacts of the withdrawals on the Sahel Coalition and the Alliance Sahel with partners, with a meeting of the Coalition planned for 14 December. The UK stands with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in calling for the restoration of democracy in Niger. Mauritania remains an important regional partner and we are working with NATO partners on a Defence Capacity Building programme for the country. I met with the Mauritanian Ambassador in London on 11 December.

We condemn in the strongest terms the growing body of evidence of serious atrocities being committed against civilians in Darfur. The UK is working with a range of partners, including Quad (Saudi Arabia, The United Arab Emirates (UAE), US, UK), African and European countries, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the African Union and the UN to end hostilities, allow unfettered humanitarian access and ensure the protection of civilians. On 17 November, the UK alongside its Troika partners (Norway and US) published a joint statement, condemning the reported mass killings in West, Central and South Darfur and urging both warring parties to deescalate and engage in meaningful discussions that could lead to a ceasefire and humanitarian access. The UK, alongside Germany, US and Norway, also initiated the new resolution to establish an independent Fact-Finding mission for Sudan, which the UN Human Rights Council adopted in October.

The UK has condemned the unjustifiable violence which took place on Sunday 26 November. We have welcomed President Bio's call for unity and commitment to hold those responsible to account, and the statements from all political parties calling out the violence. We continue to follow the situation closely and are engaged with Government, political parties and other stakeholders. The UK remains committed to supporting a democratic, peaceful and prosperous Sierra Leone.

The UK is closely monitoring events in Burkina Faso including the worsening security and humanitarian situation. Recent analysis by the UN and NGOs indicates that high numbers of school closures are disrupting education for pupils in Burkina Faso. The UK continues to provide support for education through the Education Cannot Wait Fund, a multilateral fund which supports the provision of education interventions targeting children in emergencies, including in Burkina Faso. The UK also supports the Global Partnership for Education which supports education systems transformation globally, including in Burkina Faso.

The UK closely monitors and regularly reviews the security risks to British nationals overseas. These risks are reflected in FCDO travel advice, which remains under constant review to ensure it reflects our latest risk assessment. There are seven countries that border Niger. The travel advice we provide for each one is tailored, and sets out the differing security contexts and risks. Some of these countries have their own security challenges, and FCDO already advises against all travel to Libya and parts of Nigeria, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad where these countries meet Niger's borders.

The UK condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to undermine democracy, peace and stability in Niger. As seen in Mali, Burkina Faso, and now Niger, the erosion of democracy exacerbates conflict, violence, and instability. HMG assess that terrorist violence in Niger is highly likely to increase in the next 24 months as a result of the coup alone. This may have knock-on impacts for regional security. The UK continues to closely monitor the terrorist threat from the Sahel, and its impact on littoral West Africa and North Africa. The UK has proscribed Al Qaeda and its associated groups such as Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM).

The humanitarian level of need across Ethiopia remains high. Last year, UK humanitarian assistance supported 950,000 with medical supplies, treatment for 80,000 malnourished children and women, and education for 10,000 boys and girls. This year Ethiopia has been designated a Focus Country in both the 2022 Human Rights and Democracy Report and the Women, Peace and Security National Action. We welcome the Ethiopian government's commitment to establish a national Transitional Justice policy and the progress on consultation to date. The Ambassador to Ethiopia recently announced funding for the African Union's monitoring, verification and compliance mechanism to support the implementation of the Pretoria peace deal.

It was inspiring to see Sierra Leoneans vote last month and the security situation has been largely calm following the announcement of results. As a friend of Sierra Leone, the UK noted irregularities in the electoral process, in particular the tabulation of votes. On 28 June, the British High Commission coordinated a press statement with international partners raising this and calling for people to refrain from violence and exercise restraint. It remains important political leaders and the judiciary allow issues to be addressed fairly.