Burundi and the Great Lakes

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Foreign and Commonwealth Office – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 31 March 2009.

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Photo of Mary Creagh Mary Creagh Labour, Wakefield 2:30, 31 March 2009

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. On a recent visit to Burundi, my hon. Friend Mr. Chaytor and I heard concerns from civil society and opposition parties about the elections that are due next year. We met journalists and trade unionists who had been imprisoned for criticising the President—two of whom, happily, have now been released. Will my hon. Friend ensure that we do everything in our power as the UK Government to support those elections and, critically, what happens in the post-election period, which has traditionally been the time when violent acts take place, so that the country can continue down the path of peace that its people have chosen?