Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent progress has been made in securing the release of Andy Tsege.

We continue to offer consular support to Mr Tsege and his family. We previously secured Mr Tsege’s transfer from solitary confinement to a federal prison and access to a lawyer. Officials have visited Mr Tsege 18 times, most recently on 12 October, when they were able to check on his welfare, discuss his legal access and pass on messages from his family.

In addition, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary raised Mr Tsege’s case with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in May. The Minister for Africa met with Mr Tsege's family on 24 October, and also raised the case during his visit to Ethiopia in August. Our Ambassador takes every opportunity to raise Mr Tsege’s case at the highest levels with the Ethiopian Government.