The UK continues to champion Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, including in Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Maldives, Mauritania, Cuba, Niger, Tajikistan and other countries on the Open Doors' World Watch List where Christians face persecution or discrimination because of their faith. Last July, the UK's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, set out the Government's new strategy on FoRB, providing a framework for engagement with other countries, and describing the links between the protection of FoRB and other goals including the prevention of conflict. As part of this strategy, the UK continues to champion FoRB on the international stage, including through our position in the United Nations and the Article 18 Alliance.

Kevin Rideout is a US national so the response to his abduction is being led by the US. We have updated our Niger Travel Advice page to highlight the risk of kidnapping throughout Niger, including Niamey.

Since the 26 July coup in Niger, the UK has supported efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to urge a return to civilian rule. With partners, we have encouraged Niger's National Council for Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) to engage with ECOWAS negotiators on agreeing a democratic transition timeline. This is a pre-requisite for the lifting of ECOWAS sanctions, which risk worsening an already dire economic and humanitarian situation. Before the coup 4.3 million people needed humanitarian assistance in Niger and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) assess an additional 7.3 million people could be now pushed into food insecurity.  The UK has urged all parties to facilitate the transit of humanitarian goods into Niger.

The UK continues to provide aid through reputable non-governmental organisations in Niger, Burkina Faso, and in Mali, despite the withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping forces there. These organisations include the Danish Refugee Council, which is working with an NGO consortia to provide humanitarian aid in all three countries; Marie Stopes International, which provides women's sexual health services in Mali and Niger, and Mercy Corps which supports local land conflict prevention in Mali and Niger. The UK also funds the International Committee of the Red Cross who deliver humanitarian and protection work across the region.

Nuclear fuel and uranium for the UK generating fleet is procured by the operator, EDF Energy. EDFE have confirmed they are monitoring the situation to ensure no impact on UK supply. EDFE procure uranium from a variety of mining operators in a number of countries, including Niger, Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia.

Whilst the UK is not dependent on Niger for nuclear fuel, we recognise the importance of international security of supply of uranium and the Government is committed to working closely with industry, fuel suppliers and our international partners to achieve this.

The UK has met with a range of international partners to discuss the situation in Niger since the military takeover on 26 July. We continue to use our diplomatic presence to engage with ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), its member states and other key African partners to encourage a regionally led, peaceful outcome to the crisis. To our knowledge, EDF (Électricité de France) has not requested a meeting with FCDO to discuss Niger, although we do regularly engage with French Government counterparts.

Despite ongoing political instability, we continue to award Chevening scholarships to successful candidates from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to study for post graduate degrees in the UK. For the academic year 2023-2024 we have two scholars from Niger and two from Mali. All scholars receive support with their visa applications and travel arrangements from the Chevening Secretariat.

The UK also continues to provide support for education in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso through the Education Cannot Wait Fund, a multilateral fund which supports the provision of education interventions targeting children in emergencies, and through Global Partnership for Education which supports the transformation of education systems globally, including in Burkina Faso and Mali.

The UK condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to undermine democracy, peace and stability in Niger. We stand firmly with the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in calling for the restoration of democracy in Niger.

On Gabon, the UK condemns the unconstitutional military takeover and calls for the restoration of civilian rule. We support efforts by the AU and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to hold Gabon to account and welcome Gabon's partial suspension from the Commonwealth. We will work with the Commonwealth Secretary-General to uphold Commonwealth values and call for a restoration of civilian and democratic rule in Gabon.

We regularly discuss these issues with a range of regional and international partners, including France. The Foreign Secretary spoke to the French Foreign Minister about Niger in August. Officials have regular discussions with French counterparts in Paris, London and at post.

The UK condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to undermine democracy, peace and stability in Niger and Gabon. We have not seen evidence of Wagner involvement in recent developments in Niger. More widely, it is clear that Russian engagement in the Sahel is causing instability and is not in the interests of the people of the region.

We stand firmly with the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in calling for the restoration of democracy in Niger.

The UK condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to undermine democracy, peace and stability in Niger. We are using our diplomatic presence to engage with ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), its member states and other key African partners in support of a regionally-led, peaceful outcome to the crisis. On 1 August the Foreign Secretary visited Nigeria and met with President Tinubu, ECOWAS Chair, and emphasised the UK's firm support for ECOWAS' strong leadership in response to the crisis. I [Minister for Africa], have spoken to several African leaders and other international partners, including President Bazoum, former President Mahamadou Issoufou, and African Union Political Commissioner, Bankole Adeoye. Lord Ahmad also spoke to Foreign Minister Attaf of Algeria in early September. We will continue our engagement in support of ECOWAS' leadership to secure a return to democracy in Niger.

The UK notes with concern the worsening security situation in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. We assess that the two largest terrorist groups operating in the Sahel - Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) and Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) - will likely seek to exploit opportunities including the crisis in Niger, rising conflict in northern Mali and deteriorating security in Burkina Faso to increase their operational activities, whilst also progressing their regional expansion plans. The terrorist threat in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso will likely increase as a result of ongoing instability, as will the risk of atrocities by jihadist armed groups. The UK is monitoring the security situation in the Sahel closely and continues to provide vital humanitarian aid to support those affected by conflict.

The UK condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to undermine democracy, peace and stability in Niger. We stand firmly with the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in calling for an end to the unacceptable infringement on the democratic rights of the people of Niger. The UK has suspended long-term development assistance to Niger, though we continue to provide critical humanitarian aid. The Foreign Secretary and Minister for Africa are regularly engaging with both regional leaders and international partners to support regionally led mediation efforts and bring about a peaceful resolution in Niger as soon as possible.

The UK condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to undermine democracy, peace and stability in Niger. We stand firmly with the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in calling for an end to the unacceptable infringement on the democratic rights of the people of Niger. The crisis in Niger and resultant border closures have led to blockages of food, nutrition, and medical humanitarian supplies to Niger. We are not aware that these have had a major impact on aid delivery to Burkina Faso. On 17 August, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator wrote to the President of the ECOWAS Commission asking for unimpeded movement of humanitarian cargo and personnel, and allowing financial transactions for humanitarian operations. ECOWAS has reacted favourably, indicating willingness to allow the transit of humanitarian consignments. The UK welcomes this and continues to monitor the situation to ensure that relief goods can pass into Niger.

Joint Helicopter Command, including the Chinook Force, operated from Gao, Mali in support of Op NEWCOMBE from July 2018 until June 2022.

The Force regularly conducted tasking and support operations into Niger however I am withholding exact details as their disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness, or security of the Armed Forces.

The sourcing of fuel for the UK's operational civil nuclear power plants is a commercial decision for the plant operator, which in all instances is EDF.

The list below outlines our record of the training courses provided by the UK to Niger between April 2018 and July 2023. Following the 26 July 2023 coup in Niger, the UK Ministry of Defence halted all bilateral security cooperation with Niger's armed forces.

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.

Our current case management system does not enable us to isolate cases from within Niger. However, in the recent crisis response in Niger we provided support to 24 British nationals.