Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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122. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the activities of the Boko Haram and Al Shabaab continue to be monitored by the international community; if a peacekeeping intervention will be possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12465/21]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Ireland strongly condemns the violence and terror perpetrated by Boko Haram and Al Shabaab. Ireland supports the EU, UN and other international efforts to reduce the influence of Boko Haram and Al Shabaab and to prevent their attacks, especially against civilians. Ireland continues to monitor the activities of these groups and to assist populations affected by their actions.

Through Irish Aid, the Government's official aid programme, Ireland is tackling poverty, hunger and exclusion which can be a driver of support for groups such as Boko Haram and Al Shabaab, as well as responding to humanitarian need in regions affected by conflict. This includes €27 million in humanitarian funding to the Lake Chad region since 2015, and also funding for those displaced by conflict in North-East Nigeria. Since 2012, Ireland has provided over €51.6 million in humanitarian assistance to Somalia, including to communities displaced by conflict in Al Shabaab-held areas. With humanitarian needs in these regions likely to remain acute, Irish funding will continue to target those most in need.

The UN is active in the Lake Chad Basin areas affected by Boko Haram, through its Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and the UN Peacebuilding Commission. Ireland is penholder together with Niger on the UNOWAS file at the UN Security Council, working to ensure that UNOWAS has a clear strategic direction in its work on conflict prevention and peacebuilding in West Africa. In its Presidential Statement on peace consolidation in West Africa of 3 February, the Security Council condemned attacks against civilians in Borno State on 28 November 2020, and the abduction of schoolchildren in Katsina state, claimed by Boko Haram.

The UN-mandated African Union-led peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) supports the Federal Government of Somalia in its efforts to combat Al Shabaab. Ireland is Chair of the Somalia Sanctions Committee at the UN Security Council. That Committee oversees an arms embargo and other tools to encourage a more peaceful and secure Somalia, including engagement with Al Shabaab. This complements Ireland’s role as an EU Member State supporting Somalia, including the strengthening of its government institutions. The EU provides significant development funding to Somalia, and to countries affected by Boko Haram. Ireland is a members of the International Support Group of the Regional Stabilisation Strategy for the Lake Chad Basin (ISG), and has observer status at the Sahel Alliance: both are forum which enable donors to coordinate support in addressing the challenges in Boko Haram-affected areas of the Lake Chad Basin.

The EU has three Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) Missions in the Horn of Africa. A number of Irish nationals are deployed to EUCAP Somalia, including the current Head of Mission. In the Sahel,Ireland currently has 19 Defence Forces personnel participating in EUTM Mali. Ireland also deploys one expert to the EUCAP Sahel Niger. 14 Defence Forces personnel are deployed in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). Ireland’s participation in these missions allows us to contribute to peace and security across the Sahel, help protect human rights, and put in place conditions for its sustainable development.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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123. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the EU, UN and the international community in general can assist with a view to bringing about peace in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12466/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland and the EU are monitoring developments in the region closely. The cessation of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains intact under the November 2020 agreement. This is welcome, but important issues have yet to be addressed, including the full exchange of Prisoners of War, the removal from the region of foreign fighters, and the issue of the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh. Work to restore economic and transport ties in the region is ongoing and will be an important part of any foundation for regional peace.

Access to the region remains a challenge for the international community. In December, the UN Secretary General stated that the UN is prepared to provide humanitarian assistance and we reiterate our call for all sides to allow access to UN bodies. The EU increased its contribution to humanitarian aid for the region in February by an additional €3 million, bringing the total contribution since the conflict began to €6.9 million. Ireland remains a strong supporter and contributor of funding to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which remains the major international humanitarian organisation present throughout the region.

Ireland continues to support renewed efforts towards a negotiated, comprehensive and sustainable settlement of the conflict, particularly on the long-term status of Nagorno-Karabakh. We believe the OSCE Minsk Group is the appropriate format through which to achieve this objective. The EU stands ready to contribute to the intensification of negotiations in this format. The EU, OSCE and the Council of Europe can also play important roles in post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation efforts through confidence building measures.