UK Africa Minister says “We have urged the governments of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt to find agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.”
Tigray: Letter from Africa Minister says UK is “working closely with humanitarian organisations to make sure aid reaches civilians affected by the fighting”; that it has raised ” the continued barriers to humanitarian access, the role of Eritrean forces in the conflict, and human rights abuses and violations.” that it has “urged the governments of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt to find agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.” ; and that it “remains deeply concerned by the impact of the continued fighting and human rights atrocities in the Tigray region.”
James Duddridge MP
Minister for Africa
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
The Lord Alton of Liverpool
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
24 August 2021
Dear Lord Alton,
Thank you for your correspondence of 11 August, about Ethiopia.
We remain deeply concerned by the impact of the continued fighting and human rights atrocities in the Tigray region. We have consistently urged all parties to end the conflict and start a political dialogue, prioritise the protection of civilians and allow unfettered humanitarian access.
The Foreign Secretary raised our concerns on the humanitarian situation and the need for a political dialogue to bring a lasting peace to Tigray directly with Prime Minister Abiy on 5 August and I also raised these issues with the Ethiopian Minister of Peace, Muferihat Kamil Ahmed, on 15 July. We have also consistently pressed these points in multilateral fora such as the UN, Human Rights Council and G7 and worked concertedly with international partners to raise our concerns. We are also working closely with humanitarian organisations to make sure aid reaches civilians affected by the fighting.
We continue to press both the Governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea on the full and sustained withdrawal of Eritrean troops. We have urged the governments of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt to find agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
The UK has made clear to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), most recently at the open debate on Peace and Security in Africa of 2 July, our concerns at the continued barriers to humanitarian access, the role of Eritrean forces in the conflict, and human rights abuses and violations.
On 13 July, we also co-sponsored a Resolution at the Human Rights Council to ensure that the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Joint Investigation receives appropriate support and that its findings can be reported to, and discussed by, the Council.
James Duddridge MP
Minister for Africa
