Ethiopia and Eritrea

Lord Bellingham Excerpts

Tuesday 16th September 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I thank the noble Baroness for that question. I have set out the Government’s concerns about these issues and the priority that we attach to them. With regard to the wider claims of genocide, the noble Baroness will be aware that there are international protocols on this which this Government follow.

[Lord Bellingham (Con)]

My Lords, further to the question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Browne, who referred to the Tigray peace agreement, also known as the Pretoria agreement, the Minister will be aware that the US Government led those diplomatic initiatives and played a key role in making it happen. However, the Trump Administration have said that they do not want to get involved in any diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the current Ethiopian-Eritrean crisis. Given that the two European countries with the closest ties to Ethiopia and Eritrea, with active embassies and missions in both countries, are Italy and the UK, does it not behove the Government to play a key role in trying to de-escalate this potential crisis? Will the Minister visit both those capitals and make an effort to play his part as well?

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord; I would be delighted to play my part. I put that on record now. The question of working with international partners is central to this Government’s approach. The approach to any tensions should be about dialogue. We have helped to identify suitable facilitators for that dialogue. To pursue co-operation with our international partners, in March the UK issued a joint statement with the EU and 23 countries emphasising our support for the cessation of hostilities agreement, to which the noble Lord refers, urging all parties to refrain from violence and engage in urgent dialogue. We regularly engage with all parties and the African Union guarantors to reiterate the importance of implementation and to encourage political dialogue.