Petition · Cabinet Office

Government to use ‘Southwest Asia and North Africa' (SWANA) not Middle East

Closed 48 signatures

What the petition asks

Government should stop using ‘Middle East’ in all its official business and communications. It is colonial, because it is 'Middle East' relative to Britain. We believe that Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) is decolonial, inclusive and a geographically accurate way of identifying the region.
The Government should lead in decolonising language it uses because if it changes, others may change by example. Language matters, because it influences how we think and conceptualise the world. With such turmoil in SWANA at present, it is more important than ever that language used is free from the colonial baggage of the past. Making this change could also demonstrate to everyone that the government and parliament acknowledge and distance themselves from the colonial mindsets of the past.

Timeline

24 Oct 2025 Petition opened for signatures
24 Apr 2026 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 48
Status Closed
Department Cabinet Office
Opened 24 Oct 2025
Closed 24 Apr 2026

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 19 Aug 2026.