The UK Government fully acknowledges the devastating tragedy of the transatlantic slave trade. While our position on reparations has not changed, we engage with the African Union on the issue of colonial legacy and recognise the important work under CARICOM and the AU's leadership in ensuring that the world does not forget. We also refer the Honourable member to the answer provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

The African Union has an important role to play in the search for a solution to the Sudan conflict, including as a member of the Quintet of multilateral organisations (UN, EU, AU, IGAD, LAS). We support the Quintet's efforts to establish a civilian-led, inclusive political dialogue that will be essential to securing a lasting ceasefire in Sudan. The Contact Group we established aims to coordinate a range of international efforts on political dialogue and bring them in behind and in support of the Quintet initiative.

The Minister for International Development and Africa regularly engages members of the Contact Group, including at the African Union summit earlier this year.

Ministers and officials are in regular discussion with the African Union (AU) about a range of shared priorities. The Minister of State for International Development and Africa, attended the AU Summit in February, one of only two European Ministers to attend and the first UK Minister to be invited in a around a decade, a signal of the strength of our relationship.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 23 March in response to Question HL15456.

Alongside our international partners, the UK continues to call for tensions or disputes in Ethiopia to be resolved peacefully and diplomatically, and for all parties to avoid actions that would inflame or escalate those tensions. We also continue to support multilateral efforts to promote peace and stability in Ethiopia, including backing implementation of the African Union-led Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.

During her visit to Addis Ababa in February 2026, the Foreign Secretary discussed these issues with both Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.

Ministers and officials are in regular discussion with the African Union (AU), and with individual member states about a range of shared priorities, including the AU Summit.

Baroness Chapman, the Minister for Development and Africa, attended this year's Summit, and addressed African Heads of State and Government at an event about Africa's Health Security. She is one of only two European Ministers attending the summit and is the first UK Minister to be invited in a decade, a signal of the strength of our relationship.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 January to Questions 106571-78.

I refer the Noble Lord to the response he was given to Question HL9366 on 14 July 2025.

Further to that response, on 12 December, the UK issued a formal statement alongside international partners calling for any tensions or disputes to be resolved peacefully and diplomatically. We maintain close coordination with international partners to ensure alignment on human rights actions, including at the Human Rights Council. Recommendations from the Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability are being translated into concrete actions measures or actions to strengthen accountability, reinforce mechanisms for monitoring and investigation, and improve documentation of international human rights and humanitarian law violations. We continue to help victims organise, prepare and be ready to participate fully when the transitional justice process resumes. And we continue actively supporting multilateral efforts to promote peace and stability in Ethiopia, engaging with the African Union and backing implementation of the African Union-led Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, including funding monitoring and compliance mechanisms.

The Government monitors the environment for freedom of speech in Ethiopia, and has supported the investigative capacity of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission.

We have also prioritised survivor-centred support for those affected by conflict-related sexual violence in Ethiopia, and we engage with civil society actors to strengthen protection and accountability. In the last financial year, we allocated £4.6 million to address Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) and deliver child protection services in Tigray, Afar, Amhara, Oromia and Somali regions.

In addition, we are supporting efforts to implement the African Union-led Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, including through funding for monitoring and compliance mechanisms, and the safe, voluntary and dignified returns of internally displaced people. On 12 December, the UK joined other nations in calling for a peaceful resolution of current disputes, and we will continue to work with international partners and the African Union to support stability and reconciliation across Ethiopia.

The Government monitors the environment for freedom of speech in Ethiopia, and has supported the investigative capacity of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission.

We have also prioritised survivor-centred support for those affected by conflict-related sexual violence in Ethiopia, and we engage with civil society actors to strengthen protection and accountability. In the last financial year, we allocated £4.6 million to address Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) and deliver child protection services in Tigray, Afar, Amhara, Oromia and Somali regions.

In addition, we are supporting efforts to implement the African Union-led Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, including through funding for monitoring and compliance mechanisms, and the safe, voluntary and dignified returns of internally displaced people. On 12 December, the UK joined other nations in calling for a peaceful resolution of current disputes, and we will continue to work with international partners and the African Union to support stability and reconciliation across Ethiopia.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 to Question HL9091.

The Secretary of State for Defence has not recently directly discussed the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) with any of his counterparts from other CWGC member nations.

The Secretary of State, as the de-facto Chair of the Commission, is usually represented by the Defence Services Secretary at the quarterly CWGC Commissioners meetings. These are attended by the High Commissioners of each of the CWGC’s member nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa. Their presence ensures a consistent link between the Commission and the Governments of its member nations. The next meeting is scheduled to held on 3 December 2025 where key aspects of the Commission’s ongoing and future work will be discussed.

The Foreign Secretary's future travel plans will be set out in the normal way in due course.

This Government is committed to building a strong relationship with African countries and institutions, including the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Many of the goals of the African Union and the United Kingdom are mutually supportive, for example in our joint backing of the AU-led peace support operations in Somalia. Since taking up office in September, the Foreign Secretary has met the Foreign Minister of South Africa - a leading member of the Southern African Development Community.

This Government is committed to building a strong relationship with African countries and institutions, including the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Many of the goals of the African Union and the United Kingdom are mutually supportive, for example in our joint backing of the AU-led peace support operations in Somalia. Since taking up office in September, the Foreign Secretary has met the Foreign Minister of South Africa - a leading member of the Southern African Development Community.

The UK engages with the African Union (AU) on a range of regional issues, including political developments in West Africa.

While the Foreign Secretary has not held direct discussions with African Union counterparts specifically on Togo, UK officials regularly exchange views with AU representatives on governance, stability, and democracy across the region.

The UK works alongside the AU in supporting democratic outcomes in Africa through high-quality AU election observation and AU engagement during political transitions.

Through our partnership with the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), we continue to support the AU to train and deploy election observers, with regular assessment of its effectiveness.

The UK and France maintain regular diplomatic engagement on regional developments in West Africa, including Togo. Officials from our Embassy in Abidjan recently met French counterparts in Togo to exchange views on the political situation.

The UK is actively supporting African Union partners to achieve the global health commitments outlined in the Abuja Declaration and the 2023 Lusaka Agenda, including by allocating 15 per cent of their annual budget to health. We are providing ongoing support to African partners such as Ghana and Nigeria as they work to increase domestic health resourcing and maximise its effectiveness. Internationally, we are seeking to reform the global health architecture and agree a clearer approach for aligned international investments in domestic health systems; we co-sponsored a landmark resolution on health financing at the World Health Organisation last year.