Written question asked by Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party) on Monday, 15 March 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 March 2021. It was answered by James Duddridge (Conservative) on Tuesday, 23 March 2021 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Mozambique: Homicide

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Government in Mozambique on the reported murder of civilians by a private mercenary army.

Answer: We are deeply concerned by reports of civilians being killed by a private military company in Mozambique, as documented in Amnesty International's report of 2 March. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon spoke to Foreign Minister Macamo on 11 March when he stressed that human rights must be respected during counterterrorism efforts. I [Minister Duddridge] also spoke to Foreign Minister Macamo on 4 February. I raised the need for Mozambique to follow through on investigations of human rights abuses by all sides to the conflict in northeast Mozambique.

Secondary information