Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of reported spreading instability in Ethiopia.

We remain concerned by the impact of the continued fighting in the Tigray region and growing ethnic and political tensions and violence elsewhere in Ethiopia.

Since the conflict in Tigray started, the UK has consistently called for an end to fighting, and for all parties to the conflict to prioritise the protection of civilians. We have and will continue to advocate for a political process. A political process is essential to bring an end to the fighting, and agree a sustainable settlement for Tigray. On our most recent visits to Ethiopia both the Foreign Secretary and I pressed on these issues, and also raised concerns about wider political freedoms in Ethiopia.

Most recently, I raised the elections delay to President Sahle-Work on 17 May during the France Africa Summit in Paris. On 14 April, the British Ambassador, alongside Ambassadors and representatives from other Embassies in Addis Ababa, met the Deputy Prime Minister and Attorney General. In this meeting the British Ambassador raised concerns about the narrowing of political and civic space across Ethiopia. We will continue to champion open and free political expression and discourse as the best means to resolve conflict in Ethiopia, in Tigray and beyond.